Hark to Melody Bridge

Image: © Adrian Taylor Taken: 23 Apr 2024

This unusually named railway bridge on the former Lakeside Branch over the B5278 in Haverthwaite village derived its name from the Hark-to-Melody public house nearby (photograph Image). The bridge was built to double track width for the opening of the line in 1869, with a 24’10” (26’0” skew) span with cast iron trough girders and timber decking laid with a single track over the east side of the span. The bridge was reconstructed in 1900 with a single track width span constructed with steel main girders, cross girders, rail bearers and timber decking. Following complete closure of the line the bridge span was removed and in spite of time elapsed since closure this bridge is still referred to by the national Engineer's Reference Number, LKD/11 (Lakeside Branch, bridge number 11), indicated on the Engineer’s Identification Panel on the north abutment (photograph Image). There is an Ordnance Survey cut benchmark on the south west wing wall of the bridge (photograph Image).

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