Ivelet Bridge Swaledale - Corpse Way

Ivelet Bridge between Muker and Gunnerside, Swaledale

Ivelet Bridge is one of the hidden gems of Swaledale, hidden in trees, between Muker and Gunnerside. The stone packhorse bridge with the river Swale flowing beneath makes for great photography regardless of the season.

These images of Ivelet Bridge were taken yesterday while photographing with a good friend Steve. We started our photo walk in the village of Muker, through the famous Muker Meadows and to a footbridge over the Swale towards Gunnerside. We were hand-holding out Fuji X cameras and travelling light, I’m glad we did travel light, we ended up doing a 5-mile round trip before heading back to Steve’s home town of Richmond, for a full English breakfast in Spoons, we earned it and enjoyed it.

Ivelets Bridge Swaledale

Corpse Way

Ivelet Bridge spans the River Swale and is said to date back to around 1698. The bridge was an important crossing point on the 16-mile Corpse Way from Muker to the Churchyard at Grinton, which was once the only consecrated burial ground in the dale.

For those too poor to afford a horse and cart, carrying the corpse to the only consecrated burial ground was the only way of doing it, rather them than me!

The bodies were carried in a wicker basket to reduce weight and were left overnight in a ‘Dead House’, one such dead house was the Punchbowl Inn at Feetham. For shorter stops and rests the poll bearers would place the coffin on a stone slab, the slabs were put at various stages along the router, especially for this purpose. One such stone slab can be found at the North end of Ivelet Bridge. The stone, at ground level, was covered in vegetation so I didn’t photograph it.

Ivelet Bridge Reflection, Swaledale

The Headless Black Dog

A headless dog is said to haunt Ivelet Bridge, silently running up the bridge and jumping over the wall into the River Swale. The headless black dog is considered an ill omen and a portent of death.

At least it cannot bite you or lick you to death, that said, things could get messy!

Springtime at Ivelets Bridge, Swaledale

Swaledale Countryside Around Ivelet Bridge

I’ll share a few images from the pleasant late spring morning along the River Swale in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire, England.

Swaledale Landscape

Muker, Gunnerside or Keld, the choice is Yours?

River Swale in Springtime

The River Swale near Muker

You can check out more images from my Swaledale walk to Ivelet Bridge here.

Please note: All images on this page are at most 15% resolution, for the internet. Full-size images are far more colourful and have better resolution.