The history of the bridges in the parish is not easy to trace and the dates when they were first built are not known. Their existence only comes to light when they were officially recorded for some reason. Before the 14th Century, people and 
packhorses had to cross the Dart at the ford. The first bridge in the parish was Austin’s bridge, originally 7’ 6’ it was 
widened in 1809. Dart bridge was built in 1356, and Staverton bridge appears to have been rebuilt after the previous wooden structure, was in danger of collapse in 1413.
The Church decided to finance the rebuilding by issuing Indulgences, an apparently common means of raising finance for such projects in medieval times. Indulgences were sold to people so that they could spend less time in Purgatory, the equivalent of paying a fine instead of going to prison. The morality of this method might be suspect, but at least we now benefit from the superstition of those who had done some wrong and were paying their way out.
The present fine stone bridge features on the Parish Council Chairman’s badge is believed to date from this time. Repairs and alterations have however, been carried out during the bridges long history.
Some colourful events appear to have taken place on the bridge over the years. In 1436, an enquiry resulted from a drunken brawl between a parish 
chaplain, Sir John Laa and John Gayne. They were returning home from dining out and they started to argue on the bridge. The former drew a knife in self defence and the latter fell on it and was killed. Normally, a priest who had killed a man would have lost his living, but the Bishops enquiry absolved Sir John of any guilt and he continued in office.
Twenty years later, other incidents took place involving John Murry, the Bailiff of Haytor Hundred, who should have been maintaining the peace, but instead appears to have behaved suspiciously like a highwayman, relieving travellers of horses, harnesses and baggage. It would have been an ideal place for waylaying and trapping victims.
More photos are available of the bridge taken mainly in the summer of 1992.
Please note that the first two are taken almost from the same place and show the river in drought and flood.