"Wallace" wrote in message

I thought the bridge might have been useful for moving livestock.

Moving livestock and/or pumping water would suggest locating the structure
at the middle of the parcel's side along the ditch.

The only way that would work for moving livestock is if the bridge was
located in the corner of a field that is no longer there. Livestock are
very difficult to move to a point in the middle of a fenceline or stream.
Fences to move the livestock along into a narrowing point is what would have
been needed.