Just a few illustrations of the state of health this poor bridge now suffers...

All images are clickable for a larger view.

As it was a nice day today I decided to continue my recent exploration of the River Wye; my dropping off point this morning was Redbrook.

Back in the seventeenth century copper was worked at Redbrook, but industrially the tiny village of Redbrook is best known as one of the world’s major tinplate manufacturing centres from the late seventeen hundreds right through to the 1960s.

My reason for visiting Redbrook today was not to hunt out either copper or tinplate works, although I was drawn by an industrial past.

This bridge once carried a railway line; the locals also used it as a footbridge. The line closed in the 1960s, but the bridge continued to be utilised as a footbridge until it became unsafe. A modern footbridge was constructed beside it.

Rather like the bridge at Brockweir, I find this utilitarian style interesting. I’m a little sad it wasn’t maintained so it could still be used.

Just a few miles up-stream from Brockweir, the Wye is no longer tidal here and in this morning’s sunshine the mirror-like surface of the water reflects the bank-side trees and bridge perfectly.

When it’s sunny outside most of us prefer to be in the shade, or so John Stalker would have us believe in his nasty-stripy-awning advert.

I don’t know about you folks, but I rather like the sunshine and would much prefer to be out in it than sitting under some artificial sun-shade. That said I’m very aware of the dangers of skin-cancer and always lather myself in factor 95!

Why are television adverts so condescending? Wouldn’t it make more sense if advertisers treated us like sensible, responsible beings? It really hacks me off the way those morons insult my intelligence! Oh I know, calm down dear, it’s only an advert...

So anyway, back to the point. I may not listen to former police chief Stalker, but these horses would obviously have appreciated the use of an awning; shame they didn’t have a Drummer to operate the switch for them, huh?