Devil's and Stanley Bridges, Kirkby Lonsdale

Devil's bridge built around 1370 used to carry the main Skipton to Kendal road across the River Lune. Replaced by the nearby Stanley Bridge in the 1930's the Grade I listed crossing is still a popular attraction, with bikers frequently meeting up around the bridge. They used leap from the bridge in to the pools below, until a few incidents of people getting injured led to local authorities banning it and fining people participating in the leap. Like many bridges of the same name, legend has it that the Devil appeared to an old woman, promising to build a bridge in exchange for the first soul to cross over it. When the bridge was finished, the woman threw bread over the bridge and her dog chased after it, thereby outwitting the Devil. It was repaired in 1705 and repointed in 1829 using Roman-style cement. The eastern arch was repaired in about 1869, the bridge was closed to traffic in 1932. www.colingreenphotography.co.uk