歷史
據(ju)《清乾隆(long)光山縣志》記(ji)載,明萬(wan)歷(li)庚申年(nian)(1620年(nian))由潑陂河境內紳士、鄉耆并殷實好施者,爭(zheng)相(xiang)捐資相(xiang)助,始建成“永濟橋(qiao)”。后此橋(qiao)在(zai)歷(li)次整修(xiu)中(zhong),有眾(zhong)多(duo)好心行善者傾囊獻(xian)款,因募(mu)捐款多(duo),人們又稱此橋(qiao)為“萬(wan)金橋(qiao)”。
結構
永濟橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)是河南(nan)省最長的(de)(de)(de)古(gu)代石(shi)(shi)(shi)拱(gong)(gong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。南(nan)北長101米,東(dong)西寬(kuan)7米,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)下由9個拱(gong)(gong)形(xing)(xing)孔(kong)(kong)聯綴而成(cheng),每個拱(gong)(gong)形(xing)(xing)孔(kong)(kong)長度(du)不(bu)(bu)一(yi),自6至12米不(bu)(bu)等,寬(kuan)度(du)和(he)高度(du)由中間(jian)孔(kong)(kong)向(xiang)兩(liang)(liang)(liang)邊遞減(jian),中間(jian)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)孔(kong)(kong)是高大(da)(da)(da)的(de)(de)(de)陡(dou)拱(gong)(gong),如駝峰突起(qi),逐漸向(xiang)兩(liang)(liang)(liang)邊過(guo)渡(du)為(wei)弓形(xing)(xing)孔(kong)(kong),宛如彎月。這樣的(de)(de)(de)造型(xing)(xing)顯示了建(jian)筑力學和(he)美學的(de)(de)(de)有機(ji)契合。由于(yu)(yu)中間(jian)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)孔(kong)(kong)高大(da)(da)(da),整(zheng)座橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)呈八字型(xing)(xing)。這種(zhong)建(jian)筑在古(gu)代既能使樓船(chuan)順利通過(guo),又可(ke)以迅(xun)速排除橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面雨水(shui)(shui),防止(zhi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面積(ji)水(shui)(shui),向(xiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)下滲漏(lou)腐(fu)蝕(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)梁結(jie)(jie)構。每一(yi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)墩(dun)都“肩挑”兩(liang)(liang)(liang)拱(gong)(gong),拱(gong)(gong)相連,構成(cheng)整(zheng)體,共同承受著整(zheng)座石(shi)(shi)(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)(de)重(zhong)量。由于(yu)(yu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)身長、跨度(du)大(da)(da)(da)、橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面較寬(kuan),加之全部由花(hua)崗石(shi)(shi)(shi)構成(cheng),使得(de)大(da)(da)(da)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)一(yi)種(zhong)宏偉、壯觀的(de)(de)(de)氣(qi)勢。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)墩(dun)的(de)(de)(de)東(dong)側(ce),建(jian)有高大(da)(da)(da)的(de)(de)(de)分(fen)水(shui)(shui)嶺,可(ke)分(fen)開洪(hong)水(shui)(shui)穿孔(kong)(kong)而瀉(xie),這是減(jian)少山洪(hong)沖擊,保護(hu)長橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)項(xiang)科學措施(shi)。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面兩(liang)(liang)(liang)側(ce)建(jian)有欄桿,兩(liang)(liang)(liang)邊為(wei)人行道(dao),中間(jian)為(wei)車道(dao)。據記載過(guo)去兩(liang)(liang)(liang)端(duan)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)堍有華表,兩(liang)(liang)(liang)旁有石(shi)(shi)(shi)欄石(shi)(shi)(shi)柱。每個柱頭都雕刻(ke)著不(bu)(bu)同姿(zi)態的(de)(de)(de)獅子,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)身兩(liang)(liang)(liang)邊雕刻(ke)有各種(zhong)圖案紋飾,使橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)(de)造型(xing)(xing)從整(zheng)體結(jie)(jie)構至局部裝(zhuang)飾都達到了完美的(de)(de)(de)境地。 可(ke)惜(xi)自明清以來,該橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)幾(ji)毀幾(ji)建(jian),石(shi)(shi)(shi)欄石(shi)(shi)(shi)柱早(zao)已不(bu)(bu)存在,被換成(cheng)水(shui)(shui)泥澆注的(de)(de)(de)。歷次(ci)維(wei)修的(de)(de)(de)痕跡依稀可(ke)辨(bian)。
永濟橋(qiao)是光山縣(xian)最(zui)長(chang)(chang)最(zui)大的古代聯(lian)拱石橋(qiao),也(ye)是河(he)南(nan)省(sheng)最(zui)長(chang)(chang)最(zui)大的古代聯(lian)拱石橋(qiao)。它是光山勞動人民的智慧的結晶。它對(dui)于(yu)了解(jie)我國(guo)明代建筑藝術,有著重要的價值。一九(jiu)八0年(nian)由(you)光山縣(xian)人民政府公(gong)布為縣(xian)級(ji)文(wen)(wen)物保護(hu)單(dan)位,二000年(nian)九(jiu)月(yue),河(he)南(nan)省(sheng)人民政府正式批(pi)準永濟橋(qiao)為省(sheng)級(ji)文(wen)(wen)物保護(hu)單(dan)位。