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Cromwell's Bridge or maybe Brandywine :) :) :)

EXPLORE # 49 ...... many thanks :) :)

 

There are two stories relating to this charming ancient packhorse bridge which dates back to 1561 crossing the River Hodder at Hurst Green.

 

The first relates to Oliver Cromwell's 8,000 strong parliamentary army who crossed the bridge during his march from Skipton to intercept the Royalists at the Battle of Preston in 1648 where they fought the King's men and that is were it earned it's name.

 

The second is that J R R Tolkien visited this area in the 1940's when his eldest son John was studying for the priesthood at Stonyhurst College so many places in "The Lord of The Rings" are based on this scenic part of the world ..... Brandywine Bridge was based on Cromwell's Bridge and it's very easy to imagine the middle earth dwarves crossing this way.

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Uploaded on September 14, 2015
Taken on September 10, 2015