Tarr Steps

The name Tarr comes from the Celtic word tochar, meaning "raised road." The English name for the stepping stones, "clapper bridge," originates from the Latin "claperius," which means "pile of stones."

Tarr Steps are first mentioned in the Tudor era, but their creation is believed to date back to earlier times. According to one theory, Tarr Steps belong to the Bronze Age; according to another, they date to approximately 1400 AD. Tarr Steps are an example of early stone bridge construction before the invention of the arch method. The middle of the bridge was washed away by a flood during 1941–1942. In 1945, volunteers and local schoolchildren reinforced the bridge supports, assisting specialists from the Somerset Archaeological and Historical Society and the Royal Engineers. Restoration work was fully completed in 1952, but in August of the same year, the bridge was damaged again by river flooding. Further restoration was carried out in 1979. On December 22, 2012, Tarr Steps was significantly damaged during a flood when fallen trees broke the cables stretched to protect the stepping stones from floating debris. The bridge was damaged a second time during the flood on November 21, 2016. After recent floods, when the slabs were carried downstream, they were numbered. Restoration work requires adjusting the river level.

The greatest damage to the stepping stones has been caused by floating debris accumulating at the base.

According to local legend, the devil built the stepping stones to sunbathe on the rocks and swore to kill anyone who crossed them. Frightened locals sent a cat across the bridge to test it, but the cat disappeared into the mist. Then a priest was sent to confront the devil. Halfway across, the devil met the envoy and began to curse and intimidate him. The priest responded equally, and the devil allowed people to walk on the stepping stones except on the days when he was sunbathing.

The stepping stones across the River Barle are made of roughly hewn stone slabs laid overlapping. Their total length exceeds that of other similar structures (about 40) in Britain. The largest slab measures 2.4 meters long and about 1.5 meters wide.

Sources:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tarr_Steps_-_geograph.org.uk_-_818829.jpg