Ottery St. Mary, a bridge over the river to school and hospital
The Ottery St. Mary is one of the oldest, most historical towns in Devon; its magnificent church draws in many visitors to the area every year and is the focal point around which the town is centred. Essential town amenities including the hospital, sports centre and secondary school are located on the west side of the River Otter and were only accessible to most of the local community by a busy main road.
The new walking and cycling route that has been developed provides an essential, direct link between Ottery St. Mary town centre and the local school and hospital with an impressive new bridge spanning the River Otter, connecting directly to the park in the Land of Canaan.
The route enables members of the local community to make everyday, local journeys by foot or by bike and creates far more convenient access to essential amenities. It also gives local people the chance to enjoy the tranquility and peacefulness of the riverbank and nearby water meadows.
Funding of almost £1m has been secured from a partnership of organisations and developers. The new bridge has been designed to be functional but also not to be obtrusive in the rural landscape.
Latest update
The bridge and Portrait Bench were opened on 29th August 2011 and the finishing touches to the whole scheme are well underway. The new route is being very well used everyday, especially by the hundreds of school children going to and from the King's School.
The Portrait Bench, part of a national art project, is a simple bench with three life-size effigies of local characters chosen by the local community to represent their culture and history. Ottery St Mary's bench features three famous characters chosen by the local Ottery St Mary community, poet Samuel Coleridge, an Ottery St Mary pixie and a tar barrel roller.
Download an information leaflet (pdf) and use our online mapping facility to find the bench.
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