Turtle or Truckle Bridge The name is believed to honour "Turketyl" who is said to have led the Malmesbury men at the battle of Brunneburgh in 939-AD. Indeed this bridge links the town with The Common Fields - known as King's Heath, a tract of land given by King Athelstan after Brunneburgh.
From this bridge one has perhaps the most picturesque vista of the town through the river valley and is a scene much loved by painters fron Turner in the 18th century to Jackson in the 21st century. This bridge replaced a ford the line of which can easily be traced from the Foxley Road to Harper's Lane almost a mile from the town.
Bridge description by John Bowen
