I hadn't planned on following up yesterday's shots of the River Medway so soon, but I found myself with some time and the bug has taken hold. Hence, I headed off to find Aylesford Bridge, which I think is the earliest of the river crossings dating back to the Middle Ages. It was, for a long time, the first formal crossing if you were heading upstream from the Thames.
The bridge is now a Scheduled Monument, and so protected. This note from Historic England:
"Aylesford Bridge is thought to have been constructed in about the 14th century, and is situated downstream from the probable site of an earlier ford. A grant of pontage was issued in 1331, although it is possible that this relates to a timber predecessor. In about 1824, the two centre arches were replaced by a single arch of 18m span, removing a pier to allow passage for larger river traffic."
It is now a pedestrian-only bridge and, with the exceptions of the Church and nearby Aylesford Priory (note to self for future visits), is the most notable feature of the village.
Many thanks for all your recent comments, all are very much appreciated.
Ian