The Story of Devon's Bridges
Robert Hesketh
- Region:
- South West
- Notice Period:
- Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Professional
- Fee:
- Paid: £50 (£55 after 1/1/22) plus 30p per mile travel each way to venue
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 28th January 2021
- Tagged:
The Story of Devon’s Bridges Devon is a county of rivers and thus of bridges – there are over 5,000 all told. This is the story of how builders have developed Devon’s network of bridges to meet changing needs and greatly increased trade and traffic, adapting and adopting new materials and new engineering techniques as occasion offered and needs demanded. Illustrated with over 100 digital images, this talk takes the story through from the earliest river crossings – fords, stepping stones, clam and clapper bridges – through stone arched structures, turnpike bridges, railway bridges and viaducts; concluding with 20th and 21st century road and footbridges.
Views: 665 | Enquiries: 1About Robert Hesketh
Formerly a teacher, I am a freelance writer and photographer with a strong interest in local history (my first degree subject). To date, I have published 70 Devon, Dorset, Cornish and Somerset titles (see www.roberthesketh.co.uk) and written numerous illustrated articles for The Countryman, Dartmoor Magazine, Country Walking and other publications. I also contribute West Country landscape and people photographs to photographic libraries, see www.picfair.com . Since 2002, I have been giving talks to local history clubs, Women’s Institutes, societies, U3A and Probus Clubs on Devon themes
Please contact me if you would like further details or to offer me a booking. All the talks are illustrated with high resolution digital images and last between 45 minutes and an hour, depending on what the audience wants. Questions from the audience are always welcome. I can supply the projector, laptop, projection stand and projection screen. Alternatively, I can offer all my talks on Zoom. To see my profile please visit my website www.roberthesketh.co.uk
Adrienne Hesketh (my better half) is a talented musician who also gives talks and live performance. She plays piano and recorder and her contact details are the same as mine. She also sings and dances and has her own website www.adriennehesekth.com
Charges: £60 plus 40p per mile travel each way from Bovey Tracey. (No mileage charge for Zoom talks).
Other Talks on SpeakerNet by Robert Hesketh
- Smuggling in Devon: The Truth Behind the Fiction
- Devon's Festivals
- Devon Place Names
- Surnames in Devon and Beyond
- Devon Inns
- Devon Ghosts
- Haunted Pubs in Devon
- A Curious Look at Devon Churches
- Devon Photoquiz
- Devon's Geology: an Introduction
- Armageddon 1914: How Some Devon Newspapers Reported the Outbreak of War
- 1918: The Last Hundred Days: How Some Devon Newspapers Reported the Final Stage of the War
- Devon Castles
- Devon's Railway Heritage
- Exploring Exeter's Heritage
- Devon Land and Sea Piano Presentation
- Devon Composers
- Christmas Themed Presentation
- Christmas Traditions Around the World
- Halloween Themed Musical Presentation
- St. George’s Day/Shakespeare Themed Presentation
- Valentine Themed Musical Presentation
- Spring Concert (piano, recorder and singing)
- Exeter's Tudor and REgency Buildings
- Exploring Plymouth's Heritage
- Weirdest Buildings of the West Country
- Christmas Photoquiz
- Dartmoor Myths and Legends
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