Hill bridge over the River Tavy

This 1914 photograph shows Higher Hill bridge - originally a clapper bridge, but rebuilt to better transport local traffic over the River Tavy. The photographer has caught two people gazing over the bridge. The real curiosity is the ladder propped up against the left hand side of the bridge - is it for the photographer to climb down on to the banks of the river to take his photograph, or does it have a more permanent use?