![Somerset Drawbridge center](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Somerset_Drawbridge_center.jpg)
Somerset Bridge is a small bridge in
Bermuda
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, song = " Hail to Bermuda"
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connecting
Somerset Island with the mainland in the western parish of
Sandys, Somerset Bridge is reputedly the smallest working
drawbridge
A drawbridge or draw-bridge is a type of moveable bridge typically at the entrance to a castle or tower surrounded by a moat. In some forms of English, including American English, the word ''drawbridge'' commonly refers to all types of moveable ...
in the world. It crosses a small channel connecting the
Great Sound
The Great Sound is large ocean inlet (a sound) located in Bermuda. It may be the submerged remains of a Pre-Holocene volcanic caldera. Other geologists dispute the origin of the Bermuda Pedestal as a volcanic hotspot.
Geography
The Great Sound d ...
with
Ely's Harbour.
The bridge is mentioned in the acts of Bermuda's first
parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
, held in
St. George's on 1 August 1620. Bridges were to be constructed at Somerset, the
Flatts, and
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsular neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, Manhattan Beach to its east, L ...
. Additionally, the road from Somerset to
Warwick
Warwick ( ) is a market town, civil parish and the county town of Warwickshire in the Warwick District in England, adjacent to the River Avon. It is south of Coventry, and south-east of Birmingham. It is adjoined with Leamington Spa and Whi ...
was to be improved, and extended to
Castle Point
Castle Point is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in south Essex, east of central London. The borough comprises the towns and villages of Canvey Island, Hadleigh, Ess ...
. The bridge appears on a 1624 map of Bermuda.
The bridge is opened by hand, creating a 32-inch gap that allows the passage of a
sailboat
A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails and is smaller than a sailing ship. Distinctions in what constitutes a sailing boat and ship vary by region and maritime culture.
Types
Although sailboat terminology ...
's
mast. The drawbridge is depicted on a
Bermudian banknote.
Notes
Bridges in Bermuda
Bridges completed in 1620
Sandys Parish
1620 establishments in the British Empire
Bascule bridges
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