歷史由來
惠愛橋(qiao)始(shi)建(jian)于明代正德年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(公元(yuan)1506年(nian)(nian)(nian)以(yi)后),嗣(si)后年(nian)(nian)(nian)久橋(qiao)記,經崇楨(zhen)8年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1635年(nian)(nian)(nian))、清康熙18年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1679年(nian)(nian)(nian))、乾隆(long)2年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1737年(nian)(nian)(nian))多次重修,光(guang)緒13年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1887年(nian)(nian)(nian))毀(hui)于火。清宣(xuan)統元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1909年(nian)(nian)(nian))廉州(zhou)紳商募款重修,宣(xuan)統 3年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1911年(nian)(nian)(nian))落成現橋(qiao)。據說橋(qiao)為(wei)當地泥水工(gong)匠出身的蔣邑(yi)雍設計并承(cheng)包施(shi)工(gong)。
橋體結構
惠(hui)愛橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)為(wei)東西走(zou)向,為(wei)三鉸拱(gong)人(ren)字架結(jie)構,拱(gong)腳(jiao)支撐在(zai)兩岸石砌的(de)(de)欖核形橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)墩幄上(shang),橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)墩旁還設(she)有磚砌弧拱(gong)式泄水孔,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)全部為(wei)木(mu)質結(jie)構。木(mu)料是來(lai)自印尼產的(de)(de)坤甸木(mu),質堅(jian)而耐腐。惠(hui)愛橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)在(zai)建造之初,只有跨中(zhong)的(de)(de)上(shang)下(xia)節(jie)點(dian)及拱(gong)腳(jiao)節(jie)點(dian)設(she)角鋼夾板,其余部分均無(wu)任何鐵器,民國年(nian)間才在(zai)其他受力點(dian)加(jia)角鋼夾板。惠(hui)愛橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)跨度為(wei)26米,凈(jing)跨度為(wei)18.4米,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面寬2.75米,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)掩體高5.64米,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)頂覆蓋瓦面,以防(fang)雨(yu)水從桿件(jian)的(de)(de)上(shang)端滲(shen)入。整座橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)結(jie)構和(he)設(she)計實在(zai)巧奪天(tian)工。