Bailey Bridge...

Today, I pay another visit to Stanpit Marsh, near the confluence of the Hampshire Avon and Dorset Stour, to photograph one of the last remaining WW II Bailey bridges, and certainly the oldest. In the picture a marsh pony begins to cross the prototype bridge which still spans Mother Sillers Channel.

Designed by Donald Bailey,  it was developed and built at the Military Engineering Experimental Establishment (MEXE - now long gone) at nearby Christchurch. Over 400 miles of this modular bridge design have been built and used world wide, and bridge elements are small and light enough to be transported by trucks, but strong enough to carry tanks.

Although I can find no date that this particular span was built, Bailey Bridges first went into service in North Africa in 1942.

12-24 mm f/4D Nikkor. 1/320 second at f/11. ISO 200

© 2010