The Old Bridge

From the Dauntless Collection

Showing two of Dauntless' crafts, the Bridge-keepers Hut and the old Bridge

Keith Patten

Dauntless Crafts from a different direction with the downs in the background and the old bridge to the left

Keith Patten

These two pictures I found when going through Keith Patten’s Dauntless collection.

Marion Patten tells us.
The bridge photo was taken in 1950. Note the ball on the mast means the bridge will be opening. The keepers were Bill Hesketh and Jim Thurgood who worked on Tuesday. They had to work according to the tide 24/7. When the bridge broke down it had to be wound by hand taking about an hour, It usually only opened one side. If the other side broke down they had to row across and fix it taking a very long time.