Hi Val
Here is a picture of the
St Antonin bridge from nearly the same viewing point as Sophie Hautefeuilles’
picture but taken about 150 years ago.
In 1870 the top of the
bridge was widened to accommodate the increased traffic of phosphates going to
the railway station and the Moulin du Gravier, which by then was a phosphate
processing factory. The parapet was changed and also the cutwaters (the
bits that stick out into the river). This photo pre-dates those changes
and also shows the hotel on the far side before it was rebuilt in a grander
style.
The central arch of the
bridge, built in the second half of the 16th century and still standing (!), is
a perfect semi-circle which shows up well in this old photo.
Best wishes to you both.
(hope you got the water
back quickly)
John
