The Old Yarrow Bridge

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Yarrow Bridge on the A6 south of Chorley

The current Yarrow Bridge (on the A6 just outside Chorley) was built around 1824 when the old turnpike road from Chorley to Duxbury Stocks was re-routed and modernised.  The original route of the turnpike can easily be retraced [Route of the old A6] using old maps, as well as identifying the industry and buildings, including the Yarrow Bridge Inn, that were around the original crossing of the Yarrow at Red Bank.  Miles Standish Way runs some 20 meters from this crossing.

How to find the Old Yarrow Bridge

Take the path running from Duxbury Hall Lodge towards Duxbury Hall , and after a few hundred meters head down to the river Yarrow.  There you can still see the footings of the original Yarrow Bridge. 

In fact, it is possible that there are two sets of footings for two different bridges. Footings are visible on both banks, and on the Duxbury bank, the roadway can still clearly be seen running up towards the road/path from Chorley Lodge.

There is also a horse trough on the Duxbury bank (maker as a Well on old maps) which may have belonged to the original Yarrow Bridge Inn.

When was the first Yarrow Bridge built?

Saxton's map of 1579 shows a bridge over the Yarrow between Charley (Chorley) and Adlington and Blackrod.

This layout of The peel and a bridge to Hyll (moated site at Bretters Farm?) then appears repeatedly for the next 200 years.

When did the bridge go out of use?

The last map I have found showing the bridge is on plans drawn up for the re-routing of of the Chorley to Adlington turnpike in 1824.

Today's Yarrow Bridge on the A6 leaving Chorley and build around 1824.

Footings of the bridge re-built in 1760's showing 200m down river from today's bridge

Stone horse trough on the Duxbury bank

Move a few leaves, and you can see the cobbled surface of the old A6 on the footings of the bridge

Saxton's map of 1579 showing a bridge over the Yarrow south of Charley

Hand drawn plans from 1824 showing both the original route of the A6 (upper) and the proposed new route (lower)