歷史:
據舊志記載,為(wei)(wei)南(nan)宋寶祐年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(1253年(nian)(nian)(nian)~1258年(nian)(nian)(nian))同里人葉茵建造。該橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)至今(jin)已有(you)七(qi)百(bai)多年(nian)(nian)(nian),為(wei)(wei)全鎮保存最完善、最古(gu)老的拱(gong)(gong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。思(si)本(ben)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)架于橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)港中段,東(dong)西走(zou)向,系單孔(kong)拱(gong)(gong)形(xing)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)身皆用(yong)武康石(shi)(shi)砌成(cheng)(cheng)。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)全長(chang)22.5米,寬1.8米,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面長(chang)5.4米,略呈弧形(xing),橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)跨度達9米,矢高4.5米,其矢跨正好(hao)為(wei)(wei)1∶2,拱(gong)(gong)圈(quan)呈半(ban)圓形(xing)。該橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)具有(you)獨特(te)的形(xing)體(ti)結(jie)構和架橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)技術。在橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)東(dong)西兩(liang)邊斜(xie)坡和橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面北側(ce),用(yong)三塊大型的條(tiao)(tiao)石(shi)(shi)銜接,條(tiao)(tiao)石(shi)(shi)每塊長(chang)為(wei)(wei)4.4米,寬0.73米。兩(liang)側(ce)石(shi)(shi)條(tiao)(tiao)則(ze)鑿成(cheng)(cheng)階沿,與相并(bing)石(shi)(shi)階高低寬狹(xia)一致(zhi)。如此構造,不僅能夠(gou)顯示其形(xing)體(ti)特(te)色,更(geng)對維護(hu)整座橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)梁免致(zhi)坡側(ce)傾斜(xie),起(qi)到(dao)極好(hao)的固定作用(yong),所以至今(jin)雖未(wei)經(jing)修葺(qi)而(er)保存完好(hao)。歷(li)經(jing)七(qi)百(bai)余年(nian)(nian)(nian)風(feng)雨的古(gu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),至今(jin)兩(liang)旁遍披青藤(teng)枝蔓,微露半(ban)軌橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)孔(kong),屹立在盈盈綠水之上(shang)。該橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)1995年(nian)(nian)(nian)4月被列為(wei)(wei)江蘇(su)省級文(wen)物保護(hu)單位,是蘇(su)州市(shi)吳江區(qu)境內現存最古(gu)老的橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)之一。