Frank's Bridge, Kirkby Stephen
More Articles in the Kirkby Stephen to Keld subsection
Frank's Bridge, Kirkby Stephen and the River Eden
Frank's Bridge, Kirkby Stephen, Coast to Coast
The Coast to Coast path decamps from Kirkby Stephen by passing over the River Eden on Frank's Bridge and accompanying a footpath that conducts you to Hartley Village. The bridge is a grade II scheduled monument, a corpse lane bridge, being a stone built double arched packhorse bridge dating to the 17th century. Its original purpose was to provide for the conveying of coffins between the nearby villages of Hartley and Winton to St Stephens Church (the cathedral of the Dales) which is very close to Frank's Bridge.
The bridge is thought to be named after Francis Birkbeck who, in the early 19th century, was a philanthropist and popular local brewer. Many of the buildings on the Kirkby Stephen side of the bridge were once owned by his brewery, and since converted to domiciles.
Frank's Bridge River Eden
The twin arched stone bridge in Kirkby Stephen, known as Frank's Bridge, spans the River Eden, providing access by foot to the nearby village of Hartley. Coffin rests can be observed at the end of the bridge, a custom to assist pall-bearers to rest awhile.
Jaggling Annas
a story associated with Frank's Bridge is that of Jaggling Annas, the ghost of an escapee convict from Hartley Castle who drowned in the River Eden, being weighed down by his chains. The illuminated image on the house opposite the bridge is of the birth of Christ, in contrast to the haunting of the bridge.
Frank's Bridge River Eden
Frank's Bridge is a narrow packhorse bridge, and is found at the side of Riverside Cottage, near the foot of a flight of steps leading from the town centre.
River Eden Looking North
From Frank's Bridge the River Eden is flowing northwards towards Carlisle and the Solway Firth.
River Eden Looking South
Looking south from Frank's Bridge there is a view towards Mallerstang and Nateby Common. The properties fronting the Eden along Mill Lane display their rear gardens. On the opposite riverbank is a riverside walk, along which the Coast to Coast path proceeds in the direction of Hartley Village.
Kirkby Hill from Frank's Bridge
Almost opposite Frank's Bridge, within the oval shaped fencing, is the Kirkby Stephen cricket ground. On the far side of the cricket ground is Kirkby Hill, rising to 180m. The Hartley Beck glides around the north of the Hill and converges with the River Eden only a short distance north of the bridge.
Castle Hill
The riverside walk from Frank's Bridge directs you towards Hartley. However, a little south east of the path, over a large field, is Castle Hill. This is where Hartley Castle used to be. In its place are now the buildings of Castle Farm, visible in the distance, on the crown of the hill.
Coast to Coast Trail Guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast
"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.
