Harrington Bridge
Encyclopedia
Harrington Bridge crosses the River Trent
near Sawley
in Derbyshire
carrying the Tamworth Road (B6540) into Leicestershire
. The stonework of the bridge dates from 1790, but the central section was replaced in 1905 after it was damaged by flood water. The central section is the only part of the bridge that is not a listed building.
The existing bridge dates from 1789 to 1790 and was designed by the bridge engineer and architect, Thomas Harrison
of Lancaster
. The new bridge was a toll bridge and everyone except locals living in Sawley or Hemington
(in Leicestershire) were required to pay the toll. The Lord of the Manor
and his servants were also specifically excluded from toll charges. In 1792, a ford to the west of the bridge became impassable as a result of a weir built at Redhill
in Nottinghamshire which must have increased the income from tolls. The Lord of the Manor from 1779 was Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington
.
The Act of Parliament
authorising the construction of the bridge dates from 1788.
Harrington Bridge consisted of six arches of stone, which, with the approaches, were about 100 yards (91 m) yards long, and 15 feet (5 m) feet wide, with a toll house
. The first bridge was washed down by the great flood before it was completed, previous to which here was a ford. The bridge was erected by shareholders, at a cost of around £4,000 (£ as of ), and tolls were levied to those crossing the bridge until 1882.
The bridge was damaged in floods during 1904. In 1906 a two-span riveted steel girder bridge
was erected replacing the central section, retaining the original stone approach arches. The remaining parts of the original bridge are Grade II listed buildings.
It now carries Tamworth Road, the B6540, (formerly the A453) over the river providing a link between Leicestershire and Derbyshire.
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
near Sawley
Sawley, Derbyshire
Sawley is a village and civil parish within the Borough of Erewash, in southeast Derbyshire, England. Around 6,500 people live in the parish. with a slightly higher than average number of people over 65....
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
carrying the Tamworth Road (B6540) into Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. The stonework of the bridge dates from 1790, but the central section was replaced in 1905 after it was damaged by flood water. The central section is the only part of the bridge that is not a listed building.
History
Crossings at this point date at least from the fourteenth century when several timber bridges were built. Although one lasted eighty years they were all washed away and in 1321 a ferry at Sawley was initiated.The existing bridge dates from 1789 to 1790 and was designed by the bridge engineer and architect, Thomas Harrison
Thomas Harrison (architect)
Thomas Harrison was an English architect and engineer. He built a number of bridges, including Grosvenor Bridge in Chester. He also rebuilt parts of Chester and Lancaster castles...
of Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
. The new bridge was a toll bridge and everyone except locals living in Sawley or Hemington
Hemington
Hemington may refer to:*Hemington, Leicestershire*Hemington, Northamptonshire*Hemington, Somerset...
(in Leicestershire) were required to pay the toll. The Lord of the Manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
and his servants were also specifically excluded from toll charges. In 1792, a ford to the west of the bridge became impassable as a result of a weir built at Redhill
Redhill, Nottinghamshire
Redhill is a small community forming part of the much larger town of Arnold in Nottinghamshire, England. It is about 4 miles north of the city of Nottingham in the borough of Gedling....
in Nottinghamshire which must have increased the income from tolls. The Lord of the Manor from 1779 was Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington
Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington
General Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington PC, PC , styled Viscount Petersham until 1779, was a British soldier. Stanhope is sometimes confused with an exact contemporary of his, the 3rd Earl Stanhope....
.
The Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
authorising the construction of the bridge dates from 1788.
Harrington Bridge consisted of six arches of stone, which, with the approaches, were about 100 yards (91 m) yards long, and 15 feet (5 m) feet wide, with a toll house
Toll house
A tollhouse or toll house is a building with accommodation for a toll collector, beside a tollgate on a toll road or canal. Many tollhouses were built by turnpike trusts in England, Wales and Scotland during the 18th and early 19th centuries...
. The first bridge was washed down by the great flood before it was completed, previous to which here was a ford. The bridge was erected by shareholders, at a cost of around £4,000 (£ as of ), and tolls were levied to those crossing the bridge until 1882.
The bridge was damaged in floods during 1904. In 1906 a two-span riveted steel girder bridge
Girder bridge
A girder bridge, in general, is a bridge built of girders placed on bridge abutments and foundation piers. In turn, a bridge deck is built on top of the girders in order to carry traffic. There are several different subtypes of girder bridges:...
was erected replacing the central section, retaining the original stone approach arches. The remaining parts of the original bridge are Grade II listed buildings.
It now carries Tamworth Road, the B6540, (formerly the A453) over the river providing a link between Leicestershire and Derbyshire.
See also
External links
Sources
- Inland Waterways Association, Aegre Region Newsletter, July 2006
- Inland Waterways Association, Aegre Region Newsletter, November 2006