BERROW'S Journal of 50 years ago this week gave a thumb-nail account of the river spans which have graced Upton-on-Severn down the centuries.

This potted history of the bridges was written by the Journal's Upton correspondent who had the pen-name "Cygnet".

"How many bridges have been built across the river at Upton-on-Severn?" he asked rhetorically. "As far as I can ascertain, the present one is the fourth - opened, it will be recalled, in 1938.

"The first bridge was apparently a wooden structure from medieval times, but this was replaced by one of stone in 1605. However, the English Civil War was responsible for the destruction of this bridge just a few decades later - the two arches nearest the town were demolished by the Royalists to impede the advancing Parliamentary troops.

"After the civil war, the bridge was repaired, but not effectively, and eventually it was broken down by the big Severn flood of 1852. The remains were removed the following year, and in 1854, a new river span was constructed, incorporating a drawbridge for substantial vessels to pass through. This section was later replaced by a swing bridge.

"This third span survived for more than 80 years until being replaced in 1938 by the present bridge which was built a little farther upstream."