Pictures

Until 1937 the main road north from Barnstaple, which dates from before the time of the Barnstaple Turnpike Trust (1827), crossed the River Yeo at Pilton Bridge and then went up Pilton Street, The Rock and Maer Top to Westaway. Presumably because of increasing traffic, Pilton was bypassed by a new road (known variously as New Road and North Road) which required realignment and widening of the existing bridge across the River Yeo with construction of a substantially bigger crossing. The new road was opened in 1938.

This photograph shows the existing two-arched stone bridge over the river and the site of the new bridge in its early stages. In the distance is Pilton Park and, in the background right, the two cottages (No 1 Pilton Street and No 8 Pilton Quay) which were later demolished (in the 1960s) to improve the junction.

This link takes you to the archive posting of the commemorative stone on the new bridge.

http://vimp.thepiltonstory.org/picture/Commemorative-Stone-for-erection-...

This link takes you to a posting about the two cottages:

http://vimp.thepiltonstory.org/picture/No-1-Pilton-Street-and-No-8-Pilto...

Many thanks to John Norman for this photograph from his archive.