Battyeford Sands

The area around what is now Halfpenny Bridge used to be known to the locals as Battyeford Sands because folk would go there on Sundays or Bank Holidays.  In days of old, prior to water catchment and flood alleviation, the water would reduce significantly and leave behind a fine silt, or "sands".  It was a ford where cattle were driven down the slope, now used by the canoeists, to cross the river for pasture.