Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
At Glaisdale railway station the road bends right to pass beneath the rail-
way bridge. Immediately before the bridge, a path goes right (signposted)
over a footbridge spanning Glaisdale Beck to enter East Arnecliff Wood.
Before taking this route, however, a short diversion under the railway
bridge is needed to visit Beggar's Bridge.
BEGGAR'S BRIDGE
Beggar's Bridge, it is claimed, is the handiwork of one Tom Ferris, a local man of modest
means who fell in love with Agnes Richardson, the daughter of a wealthy farmer from
Egton. The River Esk at this spot is always difficult to cross, the more so when in spate,
but to see Agnes, Tom had to negotiate its watery ways. Agnes' father, however, see-
ing little in Tom's prospects, did his best to end the relationship, inevitably forcing the
couple to meet in secret. With so much opposition, it became clear that if he intended
to have his bride, Tom had to make his fortune. Fortunately, he liked travelling, and left
Glaisdale to join a ship at Whitby. Before long he found himself fighting the Spanish Ar-
mada, after which he (perhaps unavoidably) turned to looting Spanish galleons. Even-
tually he returned, and rose to become Mayor of Hull and Warden of its Trinity House.
With his future assured, Tom built his famous bridge in 1619, and married Agnes.
Obviously serving a packhorse trade route across the moors, the bridge is a remark-
able and pleasing structure, its sides leaning outwards to accommodate bulging side
packs, or panniers. Soon the walk encounters a paved pannier-way as it enters East
Arnecliffe Wood.
Retreat beneath the railway bridge to cross Glaisdale Beck, where the path climbs
steeply for a while, leading on to an extended paved way, one of the centuries-old
pannier-ways. Amid the quiet, green shelter of this natural woodland, the path seems
longer than it is, concluding finally as it emerges on to a quiet road. Here turn left,
down the hill to Egton Bridge.
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