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The bridge appears in a painting of Otterton Park by Rev. John Swete on his perambulations in 1795. It shows a view of the river Otter with the warren (hill) in the background and a delightful grouping of trees with a primitive wooden bridge over the river and a lady standing in the middle.

The plan drawn up by James Green proposing the embankment in 1808 has a brief line drawn across the river at its present day site. In his letter to Lord Rolle dated 12th. July 1808, giving his specification for the embankment he states: “the Budleigh brook, which now runs into the river Otter by various channels should be conveyed directly into the river a little below the wood bridge at the park". The admiralty in its report on the embankment of 1851, marks and names it as Clamor (sic) bridge and this is the first use seen of the name of the bridge.

It appears to takes its name “Clamour” from a field, once part of the Colever open-field of the middle ages. It is listed as field no.1335 on the Otterton tithe award of four acres of arable land, and is part of a holding known as "Ashfords". The field lies on the high ground above the bridge and to the east of Park Lane. The other two fields of Ashfords were Furze Hill, two acres, and Colever, one acre. It is not known where the name Clamour comes from but could be a family name. It does not appear in the various subsidy rolls etc. of the 16th. Century. Clamour Bridge is not marked on the Otterton tithe map. The Ashford family are recorded in Otterton between 1632 and1728. Many fields are named after their holders, as are cottages and farms. 

Researched and written by © Gerald Millington 2008 

References 

Archive material – Clinton Devon Estate

Watercolour by John Swete - DRO, 564/M/F8/17  -  also reproduced in “Travels in Georgian Devon – The Illustrated Journals of the Reverend John Swete (1789-1800)” Vol II (edited by Todd Gray) ISBN 1 85522 648 0

Admiralty report – DRO (Devon Record Office)

OT-G-00007 any