Bingley Ireland Bridge
Encyclopedia
Bingley
's Ireland Bridge is a Grade II* listed structure and a historically significant crossing point over the River Aire
in West Yorkshire
, England
. It is now the main route between Bingley & the nearby villages of Harden, Wilsden
& Cullingworth
. The current bridge dates from 1686.
The All Saints Parish Church
and the Old White Horse Inn
, a Coaching inn
were constructed very close to the eastern bank and Bingley's modern town centre spread south from these beginnings.
Despite previous strengthening works, the bridge was deemed unfit for two-way traffic, and traffic lights were installed for a time at either end. These allowed only a single lane across for some time - disrupting local traffic at peak times.
In January 2010, Bradford Council
closed the bridge completely, and commenced works to strengthen the bridge. These works resulted in the closure of Harden Road to vehicles over the bridge. The works were originally due to take place in June 2009, but were postponed owing to the presence of rare bats roosting in the spans of the bridge. Ireland Bridge reopened to two-way traffic in June 2010.
Bingley
Bingley is a market town in the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford, in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal...
's Ireland Bridge is a Grade II* listed structure and a historically significant crossing point over the River Aire
River Aire
The River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England of length . Part of the river is canalised, and is known as the Aire and Calder Navigation....
in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is now the main route between Bingley & the nearby villages of Harden, Wilsden
Wilsden
Wilsden is a village and civil parish to the west of Bradford, in West Yorkshire, England. Wilsden is close to the Aire Valley and the nearby villages of Cullingworth, Harden, Cottingley and Allerton. Wilsden re-acquired civil parish status in 2004...
& Cullingworth
Cullingworth
Cullingworth is a village and civil parish in West Yorkshire, England, between Bradford and Haworth. The village is well known locally for holding events such as the Brontë Vintage Gathering every year and the Great Yorkshire Bike Show in 2005. The surrounding countryside is mainly used for sheep...
. The current bridge dates from 1686.
The All Saints Parish Church
Bingley All Saints parish church
All Saints Church is the Anglican parish church in the town of Bingley, West Yorkshire, England.The history of the church probably dates back to pre-Norman times. It is thought that there might have been a wooden church on this location for many years prior to the Norman conquest, although no...
and the Old White Horse Inn
Bingley Old White Horse Inn
The Old White Horse Inn in Bingley, West Yorkshire, England, is one of the oldest buildings still in use in the town. It was originally constructed as a coaching inn in the mid-seventeenth century, strategically positioned with Ireland Bridge on the one side and the Parish church on the other...
, a Coaching inn
Coaching inn
In Europe, from approximately the mid-17th century for a period of about 200 years, the coaching inn, sometimes called a coaching house or staging inn, was a vital part of the inland transport infrastructure, as an inn serving coach travelers...
were constructed very close to the eastern bank and Bingley's modern town centre spread south from these beginnings.
Despite previous strengthening works, the bridge was deemed unfit for two-way traffic, and traffic lights were installed for a time at either end. These allowed only a single lane across for some time - disrupting local traffic at peak times.
In January 2010, Bradford Council
City of Bradford
The City of Bradford is a local government district of West Yorkshire, England with the status of a city and metropolitan borough. It is named after its largest settlement, Bradford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Keighley, Shipley, Bingley, Ilkley, Haworth, Silsden and...
closed the bridge completely, and commenced works to strengthen the bridge. These works resulted in the closure of Harden Road to vehicles over the bridge. The works were originally due to take place in June 2009, but were postponed owing to the presence of rare bats roosting in the spans of the bridge. Ireland Bridge reopened to two-way traffic in June 2010.