Stone Bridge (Photographed in June 2003) At first sight the bridge with its two, shallow arches looks as though it is made completey from stone. However on closer examination the two arches, which rest on three coarse foundations of stone, are built from brick. In the picture to the right one of the foundation layers can be seen below the orange line and the brickwork above it. The brick arches and stone foundations are illustrated in the graphic opposite. The visible stonework is cemented into place over the brickwork to create an image of a stone bridge that would have fitted flawlessly into, what was then, a rural environment. (Run the the cursor over the graphic to reveal an image of the stone bridge). This method of construction was chosen because a brick has six flat surfaces that can be butted against each other, making it easier to create a sturdy arch. An irregular shaped stone, however, has no flat surfaces and therefore does not lend itself to the kind of technology employed here. It appears that the stone was used purely for decorative purposes rather than as a constructional material; even the bridge deck is lined with it. Such thoughtful execution suggests that the person who oversaw the bridge construction was not an amateur but a master craftsman.