A lorry driver who smashed into Soham’s rare historic weighbridge when his sat nav took him down a narrow street had to be stopped from driving away by a pub customer who jumped in front of the large haulage truck.

Ely Standard: Soham's historic weighbridgeSoham's historic weighbridge (Image: Archant)

The Grade II weighbridge is one of only two working examples in the UK.

Ely Standard: Soham's historic weighbridgeSoham's historic weighbridge (Image: Archant)

Now, just a third of it is left after pieces of wood were cut away to safely free the lorry from the contraption on the side of the landmark Fountain Pub in Soham on Tuesday (29) at about 2pm.

Ely Standard: Soham's historic weighbridgeSoham's historic weighbridge (Image: Archant)

Landlord John Hartley said it is the fourth time the weighbridge has been hit in four years and added there were no signs from one direction warning of height restrictions.

Ely Standard: Soham weighbridge part of the town's history, took a hit this week as a lorry passed beneath it. The weighbridge is one of only two of its kind left in the country - the other can be seen at Woodbridge in Suffolk. PHOTO: John HartleySoham weighbridge part of the town's history, took a hit this week as a lorry passed beneath it. The weighbridge is one of only two of its kind left in the country - the other can be seen at Woodbridge in Suffolk. PHOTO: John Hartley (Image: Archant)

Mr Hartley said: “If the customer hadn’t jumped in front of the lorry he would have driven away and ran a serious risk of pulling the whole thing down.

Ely Standard: Soham weighbridge part of the town's history, took a hit this week as a lorry passed beneath it. The weighbridge is one of only two of its kind left in the country - the other can be seen at Woodbridge in Suffolk. PHOTO: John HartleySoham weighbridge part of the town's history, took a hit this week as a lorry passed beneath it. The weighbridge is one of only two of its kind left in the country - the other can be seen at Woodbridge in Suffolk. PHOTO: John Hartley (Image: Archant)

“The driver didn’t even say sorry. He was new to the area and followed his sat nav.

Ely Standard: Soham weighbridge part of the town's history, took a hit this week as a lorry passed beneath it. The weighbridge is one of only two of its kind left in the country - the other can be seen at Woodbridge in Suffolk. PHOTO: John HartleySoham weighbridge part of the town's history, took a hit this week as a lorry passed beneath it. The weighbridge is one of only two of its kind left in the country - the other can be seen at Woodbridge in Suffolk. PHOTO: John Hartley (Image: Archant)

“Police closed the road while we had staff down from the council, structural engineers and police to make it safe, free the lorry and try to salvage what we could.

Ely Standard: Soham weighbridge part of the town's history, took a hit this week as a lorry passed beneath it. The weighbridge is one of only two of its kind left in the country - the other can be seen at Woodbridge in Suffolk. PHOTO: John HartleySoham weighbridge part of the town's history, took a hit this week as a lorry passed beneath it. The weighbridge is one of only two of its kind left in the country - the other can be seen at Woodbridge in Suffolk. PHOTO: John Hartley (Image: Archant)

“It was a nightmare day and upsetting to see such an important piece of history ruined like that.

Ely Standard: Weighbridge, Soham, that was hit by a lorry. As part of the Fountain, the Steelyard Weighbridge has previously survived a fire on the 4th May 1900. It is one of only two surviving weighbridges of its type- the othger is in Woodbridge, Suffolk. PHOTO: Geoff GriggsWeighbridge, Soham, that was hit by a lorry. As part of the Fountain, the Steelyard Weighbridge has previously survived a fire on the 4th May 1900. It is one of only two surviving weighbridges of its type- the othger is in Woodbridge, Suffolk. PHOTO: Geoff Griggs (Image: Archant)

“About a third of it is left. Luckily the oldest pieces of wood are in tact; they’re massive beams at the top of the weighbridge.

Ely Standard: Weighbridge, Soham, that was hit by a lorry. As part of the Fountain, the Steelyard Weighbridge has previously survived a fire on the 4th May 1900. It is one of only two surviving weighbridges of its type- the othger is in Woodbridge, Suffolk.Weighbridge, Soham, that was hit by a lorry. As part of the Fountain, the Steelyard Weighbridge has previously survived a fire on the 4th May 1900. It is one of only two surviving weighbridges of its type- the othger is in Woodbridge, Suffolk. (Image: Archant)

“The pieces that are damaged that the lorry took out are at the bottom gangway where the wood isn’t so old,” he said.

Ely Standard: Weighbridge, Soham, that was hit by a lorry. As part of the Fountain, the Steelyard Weighbridge has previously survived a fire on the 4th May 1900. It is one of only two surviving weighbridges of its type- the othger is in Woodbridge, Suffolk.Weighbridge, Soham, that was hit by a lorry. As part of the Fountain, the Steelyard Weighbridge has previously survived a fire on the 4th May 1900. It is one of only two surviving weighbridges of its type- the othger is in Woodbridge, Suffolk. (Image: Archant)

“When the lorry hit I was in my office and the walls shook. It hit with such an impact it pulled out the fascia of the building.

Ely Standard: Weighbridge, Soham, that was hit by a lorry. As part of the Fountain, the Steelyard Weighbridge has previously survived a fire on the 4th May 1900. It is one of only two surviving weighbridges of its type- the othger is in Woodbridge, Suffolk. PHOTO: Geoff GriggsWeighbridge, Soham, that was hit by a lorry. As part of the Fountain, the Steelyard Weighbridge has previously survived a fire on the 4th May 1900. It is one of only two surviving weighbridges of its type- the othger is in Woodbridge, Suffolk. PHOTO: Geoff Griggs (Image: Archant)

“The photos almost brought me to tears, but we are determined to make it good again, we are very proud of this structure.”

Mr Hartley is checking insurance and will liaise with heritage officers to return the weighbridge to its former glory having spent hours of lovingly restoring parts of it four years ago.

• The steelyard weighbridge survived a fire in May 1900 along with the Fountain Justice Room and were the only two remaining buildings that survived. Originally know as The White Lion, The Fountain is believed to date from the 15th Century.

• The steelyards date from the 17th century. The other weighbridge is at Woodbridge in Suffolk.

• They were used for weighing agricultural produce like hay and straw to an accuracy of within two ounces.

• It was used up until 1879, when the Ely to Newmarket railway line opened, enabling farmers to take their goods to Newmarket for weighing instead.

• The Soham weighbridge was overhauled in 1929 and renovated again in 2001 by the former landlords with the help of a grant from East Cambridgeshire District Council.

• The weighbridge was treated to more restorative work in 2013 by the current landlords who have pledged to fix the damage.