| THAMNOP RO BRIDGE |
Saphan Thamnop Ro was the only bridge in the Ayutthaya period that connected the
city island to a point across the river. Transportation from one riverbank to another was
done by ferry boat instead. Sapan Thamnop Ro appears on both Engelbert Kaempfer’s
and Bellin’s maps from the late 17th century.
This causeway was located near the confluence of the old Lopburi River (also known as
Khlong Hua Ro and Maenam Pho Sam Ton) and the new Lopburi River. The Maha
Chai Fortress was located on the side of the city island and Wat Sam Vihan was
situated to its north.
During the White Elephant War (1563-1564), Burmese used rubble to build a bridge
that crossed the old Lopburi in order to attack the city. During the reign of King
Chakkraphat (r.1548-1569), the causeway was renovated to include bricks. It was six
meters in width and had gaps in the middle with removable planks.
King Maha Thammaracha (r.1569-1590) used this causeway to move the elephant
kraal from the city island to the Municipality of Phaniat, where a camp already stood for
the capture of elephants. This causeway was then used for state purposes only.
Elephants, horses, and wagons were allowed to cross it.
Thamnop Ro served no military role for the Burmese during the fall of Ayutthaya in
1767. The Royal Chronicles explain how the Burmese constructed their own bridge in
front of the Wat Mae Nang Plum, while makeshift walls obscured them from view, so
that they could dig tunnels to set the city walls on fire (Cushman 520).
Thamnop Ro has since been destroyed, but many old bricks and laterite blocks can be
seen in the vicinity where it once stood. A metal walking bridge stands in the
approximate location, connecting the Hua Ro market to the area in front of Wat Sam
Vihan.
city island to a point across the river. Transportation from one riverbank to another was
done by ferry boat instead. Sapan Thamnop Ro appears on both Engelbert Kaempfer’s
and Bellin’s maps from the late 17th century.
This causeway was located near the confluence of the old Lopburi River (also known as
Khlong Hua Ro and Maenam Pho Sam Ton) and the new Lopburi River. The Maha
Chai Fortress was located on the side of the city island and Wat Sam Vihan was
situated to its north.
During the White Elephant War (1563-1564), Burmese used rubble to build a bridge
that crossed the old Lopburi in order to attack the city. During the reign of King
Chakkraphat (r.1548-1569), the causeway was renovated to include bricks. It was six
meters in width and had gaps in the middle with removable planks.
King Maha Thammaracha (r.1569-1590) used this causeway to move the elephant
kraal from the city island to the Municipality of Phaniat, where a camp already stood for
the capture of elephants. This causeway was then used for state purposes only.
Elephants, horses, and wagons were allowed to cross it.
Thamnop Ro served no military role for the Burmese during the fall of Ayutthaya in
1767. The Royal Chronicles explain how the Burmese constructed their own bridge in
front of the Wat Mae Nang Plum, while makeshift walls obscured them from view, so
that they could dig tunnels to set the city walls on fire (Cushman 520).
Thamnop Ro has since been destroyed, but many old bricks and laterite blocks can be
seen in the vicinity where it once stood. A metal walking bridge stands in the
approximate location, connecting the Hua Ro market to the area in front of Wat Sam
Vihan.
| Text by Ken May - April 2009 Reviewed by Tricky Vandenberg - July 2011 |
| (New bridge in approximate location) |
| (Indication of Thamnop Ro on French map of 1687) Click map to enlarge |
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Addendum
"Thamnop" is Thai for a "weir or dam", while "Ro" means "to delay". "Thamnop Ro" was
thus a kind of weir made of wooden beams positioned in the water to break the speed
of the river in order to prevent damage to the embankments. Thamnop Ro was situated
at the confluence of the former Lopburi and Pa Sak Rivers in front of the former Maha
Chai Fortress. The Thamnop Ro Bridge derived its name from this water speed breaker.
Likely the word "Ro" in "Thamnop Ro" refers to "Hua Ro", which was the point created
by the old Lopburi River turning west at the north-eastern point of Ayutthaya's city
island. In this area was a village until recently called Ban Hua Ro. The seventh and last of
the northern boat landings was located just above the Maha Chai Fortress at the Hua Ro
corner and ferried people across to the landing of Wat Mae Nang Plum. The landing
was called Tha Khun Nang or the "Noblemen Landing" and was in fact the second
official landing, bringing people to and from the Front Palace.
"Thamnop" is Thai for a "weir or dam", while "Ro" means "to delay". "Thamnop Ro" was
thus a kind of weir made of wooden beams positioned in the water to break the speed
of the river in order to prevent damage to the embankments. Thamnop Ro was situated
at the confluence of the former Lopburi and Pa Sak Rivers in front of the former Maha
Chai Fortress. The Thamnop Ro Bridge derived its name from this water speed breaker.
Likely the word "Ro" in "Thamnop Ro" refers to "Hua Ro", which was the point created
by the old Lopburi River turning west at the north-eastern point of Ayutthaya's city
island. In this area was a village until recently called Ban Hua Ro. The seventh and last of
the northern boat landings was located just above the Maha Chai Fortress at the Hua Ro
corner and ferried people across to the landing of Wat Mae Nang Plum. The landing
was called Tha Khun Nang or the "Noblemen Landing" and was in fact the second
official landing, bringing people to and from the Front Palace.
| Text, photographs & map by Tricky Vandenberg - May 2009 Reviewed July 2011 |
| (Example of a weir on the Noi River) |