A possible at least 122 year-old bench mark on Leeds Bridge.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 12 Jul, 2013 3:21 pm

This photo was taken on July 11 2013 and shows a bench mark (BM) at the far end on the right (below the floral display) when crossing Leeds Bridge from Briggate. A BM is marked there on the 1891 1:500 map (and later maps) in the Old-Maps UK (OMUK) website, so the BM may be at least 122 years old. The 1850 1:1056 map in the OMUK website does not show a BM there but does show one at the centre of the bridge there then. As the current Leeds Bridge was built between 1870-1873 then the BM there now could be up to 143 years old. It is clearly weathered, so it may well be the original BM. I shall post a close-up view of the BM in my next post. As far as I could find this BM has not previously been the subject of a SL thread but I apologise if it has.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 12 Jul, 2013 3:25 pm

This is the close-up view (taken July 11 2013) of the clearly weathered BM.I'm no geologist but the sandstone block with the bottom bit of the BM does seem to show sedimentary layering. I have not been able to readily find where the stone for Leeds Bridge was quarried but I suspect it would have been a Leeds quarry in view of what would probably have been much higher transportation costs of very heavy stone from further away.

jim · Post by **jim** » Fri 12 Jul, 2013 5:47 pm

Is it possible that the upper stone is of later date than the lower, and the mason has carved the horizontal of the BM but not the intersection of the "arrowhead"?

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 12 Jul, 2013 7:51 pm

jim wrote: Is it possible that the upper stone is of later date than the lower, and the mason has carved the horizontal of the BM but not the intersection of the "arrowhead"? Thanks for that jim. The arrow bit does look truncated, as if its top may have been lost at some stage.

liits · Post by **liits** » Fri 12 Jul, 2013 9:03 pm

The top of the arrow being truncated by a join in the brickwork / masonry is not uncommon.http://www.flickr.com/photos/liits/sets ... 025263999/

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 12 Jul, 2013 9:34 pm

liits wrote: The top of the arrow being truncated by a join in the brickwork / masonry is not uncommon.http://www.flickr.com/photos/liits/sets ... 025263999/ Thanks for that link liits.

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Mon 15 Jul, 2013 12:11 pm

Is the new bridge a complete new build then or did they slot in some steel and marry up the stone ends?