The City Daily Photo Blog theme is Circles or Spheres.
Question: How does a horse towing a boat perform a circle and cross to the other side of the canal without being unhitched?
Answer: Use a roving bridge.
Here is the famous Captain Clarke's Bridge on the Peak Forest Canal as photographed about 1900.
It is named after the navel officer, John Clarke who lived at Wood End in the 19th century.
The towpath changes sides at this point. The horse, pulling a narrowboat along with a towline attached to its harness, would walk under the bridge then up around the curve, over the canal and down the other side. If the boat was going the other way, the horse would cross the bridge then curve down and go under the bridge. Because the towpath goes under the bridge before circling upwards, the towline could remain attached the whole time, which would save the boatmen time and fiddling about.
Another roving bridge on this stretch is the Manchester Road Canal Bridge, of which you can see more on Hyde Daily Photo.
To view thumbnails for all participants to the "circles/spheres" theme, visit the CDPB portal.
To break my own commenting rules, but to me this is a wonderful photo. I won't bore anyone with the technical reasons, trust me it just is. As for the theme of course it's spot on and a slice of history thrown in for good measure. Like lines I think this theme will be interesting to view.
ReplyDeleteGreat shot. It has a real old time look to it. Very well done.
ReplyDeleteVery nice choice. Awesome photo.
ReplyDeletebeautiful. would love to see that in person. Does it still exist?
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read the explanation of how the bridge works, I couldn't get my head around it. Took a good night's rest; now I get it. Cool idea.
ReplyDeletebeautiful picture. it took me a few reads to understand how it works. brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI just now clicked over here. What a terrific companion this is to your theme day spot, Gerald. I love your Old Hyde blog.
ReplyDeleteI spent part of my teenage years on, around and under this bridge. With the Rowing Club out of sight on the far left of the bridge, memories of table tennis, playing cards and girls come back. Pity the Church hierarchy had to illegally close the Rowing Club and let it rot.
ReplyDeleteCaptain Clarkes Bridge was an important 1950's social centre long after the last horse had passed.
This photograph shows it very clearly, Gerald. I think I can follow it. And how does it work going the other way, because the horse has not gone UNDER the bridge. However, in my confused brain, I can follow an imaginery rope, and see that it would not be entangled during the reverse journey either. Must leave this fascinating topic now. My brain is tired!!!
ReplyDelete