---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Up past the King's is this stone bridge…"
description: "\"“Up past the King's is this stone bridge with big stone balls on it. Larry said it was Clare Bridge. I said I hoped they'd stuck those balls down prope..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/j-l-merrow-9595_quote_up-past-the-king-s-is-this-stone-bridge_634994.jpg"
---

#  Up past the King's is this stone bridge with big stone…

![“Up past the King's is this stone bridge with big stone balls on it. Larry said it was Clare Bridge. I said I hoped they'd stuck those balls down properly, 'cause i didn't fancy one of them coming down on us when we went underneath. Larry thought that was really funny, but I don't think he'd have…” quote by J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/j-l-merrow-9595_quote_up-past-the-king-s-is-this-stone-bridge_634994.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/j-l-merrow-9595_quote_up-past-the-king-s-is-this-stone-bridge_634994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/j-l-merrow-9595_quote_up-past-the-king-s-is-this-stone-bridge_634994.jpg)

> ““Up past the King's is this stone bridge with big stone balls on it. Larry said it was Clare Bridge. I said I hoped they'd stuck those balls down properly, 'cause i didn't fancy one of them coming down on us when we went underneath. Larry thought that was really funny, but I don't think he'd have been laughing if half a ton of stone dropped through the bottom of the punt.””

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker worries about the safety of a historic stone bridge, fearing the large stone balls could fall and cause injury.

**In simple terms:** Concern about old bridge safety.

Key Takeaway

Check bridge stability before crossing.

Themes

safety history humor

Mood

cautious lighthearted

Type

anecdotal cautionary

When to use this quote

- walking tours
- river punts
- historical site visits
- bridge inspections

Key Concepts

Engineering risk architectural heritage

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance humor with genuine safety concerns?
- What steps can be taken to assess old bridge safety?

A Different Perspective

The anecdote may exaggerate risk for comedic effect, not reflecting actual structural integrity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [“When he looked up, he said, "Clare told me about Christmas." And I swear the boy's face began to shine. I recognized what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-de-los-santos/when-he-looked-up-he-said-clare-told-me-about-christmas-and-i-swear/)

[Marisa de los Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-de-los-santos/)

> [On Waterloo Bridge where we said our goodbyes, the weather conditions bring tears to my eyes. I wipe them away with a black woolly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-cope/on-waterloo-bridge-where-we-said-our-goodbyes-the-weather-conditions/)

[Wendy Cope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-cope/)

> [“I thought you looked like a man with a bridge on fire, she said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gay/i-thought-you-looked-like-a-man-with-a-bridge-on-fire-she-said/)

[William Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gay/)

> [“The bridge is said to bestow good luck on lovers who share a kiss right where we are standing. Ethan Sterling - Private Emotions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elize-amornette/the-bridge-is-said-to-bestow-good-luck-on-lovers-who-share-a-kiss/)

[Elize Amornette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elize-amornette/)

> [“I knew I did not love Catherine Barkley nor had any idea of loving her. This was a game, like bridge, in which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-knew-i-did-not-love-catherine-barkley-nor-had-any-idea-of-loving/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

## More by J.L. Merrow

> [“You never did...anything else with Ren?" I knew he wasn't talking about me painting him and stuff. "Why would I want him when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/you-never-did-anything-else-with-ren-i-knew-he-wasn-t-talking-about/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

> [“He gave me a kiss and said good night.” “He didn’t! The bastard.” “Yeah,” I muttered to the tabletop. “He said he’d had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/he-gave-me-a-kiss-and-said-good-night-he-didn-t-the-bastard-yeah-i/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

> [“His gaze kept sliding in my direction, then zipping back to Phil, as if he’d heard you should make eye contact with people you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/his-gaze-kept-sliding-in-my-direction-then-zipping-back-to-phil-as-if/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

> [“That’s my darling little doggie. Bubbles by name, bubbles for brains. You’ve got to love him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/that-s-my-darling-little-doggie-bubbles-by-name-bubbles-for-brains/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

> [“Alan:I used rabbit-skin glue to size the panels. I got it from the art shop. I don’t know if they use real rabbits in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/alan-i-used-rabbit-skin-glue-to-size-the-panels-i-got-it-from-the-art/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

> [“Look, I really appreciate you bringing me here, but I think there’s something you ought to know about me.” David smiled. “If it’s that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/look-i-really-appreciate-you-bringing-me-here-but-i-think-there-s/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

> [“We did sixty-nine that night. Larry went on top so he didn’t get squished. He’s really good at sucking dick. I wondered if he’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/we-did-sixty-nine-that-night-larry-went-on-top-so-he-didn-t-get/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

> [“I was thinking of Cambridge, and then I got a bit homesick for a minute, ’cause I never been this far away from home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/i-was-thinking-of-cambridge-and-then-i-got-a-bit-homesick-for-a/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

> [“I gave the wretched beast a look that said plainly I’ll deal with you later. He flicked his tail at me, cat-speak for Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/i-gave-the-wretched-beast-a-look-that-said-plainly-i-ll-deal-with-you/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

> [“I thought my mum would be probably rather have us round for tea in her room, but Larry said he wanted to take he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/i-thought-my-mum-would-be-probably-rather-have-us-round-for-tea-in/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

> [“Sometimes you got to make a stand on something, even when the thing itself isn't that important. It's like the difference between painting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/sometimes-you-got-to-make-a-stand-on-something-even-when-the-thing/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

> [“It's sad to fall asleep. It separates people. Even when you're sleeping together, you're all alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/it-s-sad-to-fall-asleep-it-separates-people-even-when-you-re-sleeping/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

> [“Lead me!” I told him fervently. “Astray is, like, my favourite place ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/lead-me-i-told-him-fervently-astray-is-like-my-favourite-place-ever/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

> [“When a bloke takes you out for a meal You’d think sex would be part of the deal Not a pat on the head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/when-a-bloke-takes-you-out-for-a-meal-you-d-think-sex-would-be-part/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

> [“I frowned. “Are you sure about this? It’s a bit short.” “So? It’s poetry, not dick size.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/i-frowned-are-you-sure-about-this-it-s-a-bit-short-so-it-s-poetry-not/)

[J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

[Explore all 71 J.L. Merrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/)

## More Bridge Said quotes

> [On Waterloo Bridge where we said our goodbyes, the weather conditions bring tears to my eyes. I wipe them away with a black woolly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-cope/on-waterloo-bridge-where-we-said-our-goodbyes-the-weather-conditions/)

[Wendy Cope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-cope/)

> [“I thought you looked like a man with a bridge on fire, she said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gay/i-thought-you-looked-like-a-man-with-a-bridge-on-fire-she-said/)

[William Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gay/)

> [“The bridge is said to bestow good luck on lovers who share a kiss right where we are standing. Ethan Sterling - Private Emotions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elize-amornette/the-bridge-is-said-to-bestow-good-luck-on-lovers-who-share-a-kiss/)

[Elize Amornette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elize-amornette/)

> [“I knew I did not love Catherine Barkley nor had any idea of loving her. This was a game, like bridge, in which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-knew-i-did-not-love-catherine-barkley-nor-had-any-idea-of-loving/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

Browse all 5 Bridge Said quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Up past the King's is this stone bridge with big stone balls on it. Larry said it was Clare Bridge. I said I hoped they'd stuck those balls down properly, 'cause i didn't fancy one of them coming down on us when we went underneath. Larry thought that was really funny, but I don't think he'd have been laughing if half a ton of stone dropped through the bottom of the punt.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "J.L. Merrow"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/up-past-the-king-s-is-this-stone-bridge-with-big-stone-balls-on-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bridge Said"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/up-past-the-king-s-is-this-stone-bridge-with-big-stone-balls-on-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/j-l-merrow-9595_quote_up-past-the-king-s-is-this-stone-bridge_634994.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/j-l-merrow-9595_quote_up-past-the-king-s-is-this-stone-bridge_634994.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/j-l-merrow-9595_quote_up-past-the-king-s-is-this-stone-bridge_634994.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Up past the King's is this stone bridge with big stone balls on it. Larry said it was Clare Bridge. I said I…” — J.L. Merrow",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "J.L. Merrow",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Up past the King's is this...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/up-past-the-king-s-is-this-stone-bridge-with-big-stone-balls-on-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/up-past-the-king-s-is-this-stone-bridge-with-big-stone-balls-on-it/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
