Tarr Steps in south Somerset, is a very old bridge, it may even be very, very old, a couple of thousand years!It is much more likely to be a medieval clapper bridge – the name maybe from the Anglo-Saxon, cleaca, meaning stepping stones forming a bridge, or it may be of Latin origin and comes from claperius, a pile of stones. It is constructed by putting long heavy slabs across other stones so the water flows easily beneath, the water of the River Barle. There are a few other clapper bridges left, including some in Devon and Lancashire.
This is what Tarr Steps usually looks like:
Lois Elsden 
oh what a shame about the top stones!
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I heard about this, I hope they can find and replace them.
Jim
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Luckily they are all still there, just jumbled up – they’ll probably do it later in the year when the flood has abated! Have you ever seen them? They are wonderful and in a beautiful valley!
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I had planned to go in November but the weather got in the way 😀
It is on my list, I’ll listen out to hear what they are doing about them.
Jim
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These look stunning. I would love to see a photo of them after they have been repaired.
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We’re hoping to go down again in the spring when we’ll be staying near there on the annual family holiday! I’m sure I’ll be taking a photo or two!
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