York, England: Lendal Bridge

This bridge isn't particularly fascinating to examine. However, it does have quite an unusual history ... with a bit of a twist along the way.

In the first half of the 1800s, railroads dropped their passengers on one side of the River Ouse, but they needed to cross over to the other side - where the main part of town was. A ferry service filled that role for many years. In 1838, someone wondered if a bridge could be installed instead. It took 28 years to work out the details.

Finally, in 1860, a bill was passed to start construction, and foundations were place. But disaster took place in 1861, as the bridge collapsed - killing five men. They tried again, and the new bridge - upright, happily - opened for business in 1863. 

But what happened to the ferryman? Yes, he was out of business. So York gave him 15 pounds, a horse and a cart as compensation. 

Tolls were installed to help pay for the bridge. You can still see the toll houses on either side - now converted to cafes. Passengers paid a half-penny while animals required a full penny to cross. The toll was dropped in 1894, so we've had more than 130 years of free travel.

During a visit, be sure to look for the Dame Judy Dench Walk along the riverfront. Judy grew up in the York area.