Over Bridge
Encyclopedia
Over Bridge is a single span
stone arch bridge
spanning the canalised West Channel of the River Severn
near Gloucester
. It links Over
to Alney Island
.
Although there was a crossing at Over recorded in the Domesday Book , this famous bridge was built by Thomas Telford
between 1825 and 1828, to carry traffic east-west. It was opened in 1830 and remained in use for traffic until 1974 . Until the Severn Bridge
was built in the 1960s this was the lowest point downstream that the Severn could be crossed by road bridge.
The arch spans 150 feet (46 m), and was based on Jean-Rodolphe Perronet
's 1774 design for a bridge over the River Seine at Neuilly
. It combines both an elliptical
profile over most of the soffit
with a segmental
profile at its faces. This feature is known as a corne de vache.
When built, the arch sank by 2 inches when its timber centering was removed, and another 8 inches due to settlement of the arch foundations
.
Today it is a pedestrian-only bridge, and is in the guardianship of English Heritage
as a Scheduled Ancient Monument
reference number 28842. Road traffic on the A40
crosses the Severn on a new bridge alongside and upstream of it.
This is the last road bridge over the Severn before the Severn Crossings
, and the most downstream free crossing, although the Severn Bridge
has free access for pedestrians, cyclists and mopeds and, as previously stated, there is no vehicular access to Over Bridge.
Span (architecture)
Span is the distance between two intermediate supports for a structure, e.g. a beam or a bridge.A span can be closed by a solid beam or of a rope...
stone arch bridge
Arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
spanning the canalised West Channel of the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
near Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
. It links Over
Over, Gloucestershire
Over is a village in the civil parish of Almondsbury in South Gloucestershire, England, situated about 20 km north-west of Bristol. It lies on the B4055, a road that parallels the M5 from Junction 17 to 16. The road, known locally as Over Lane, follows the foot of the escarpment which...
to Alney Island
Alney Island
Alney Island is an island in the River Severn near Gloucester. The Severn splits into two channels at Upper Parting , and merges together again at Lower Parting to the south...
.
Although there was a crossing at Over recorded in the Domesday Book , this famous bridge was built by Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
between 1825 and 1828, to carry traffic east-west. It was opened in 1830 and remained in use for traffic until 1974 . Until the Severn Bridge
Severn Bridge
The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and...
was built in the 1960s this was the lowest point downstream that the Severn could be crossed by road bridge.
The arch spans 150 feet (46 m), and was based on Jean-Rodolphe Perronet
Jean-Rodolphe Perronet
Jean-Rodolphe Perronet 27 October 1708, Suresnes – 27 February 1794, Paris) was a French architect and structural engineer, known for his many stone arch bridges. His best known work is the Pont de la Concorde .-Life and career:...
's 1774 design for a bridge over the River Seine at Neuilly
Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
. It combines both an elliptical
Ellipse
In geometry, an ellipse is a plane curve that results from the intersection of a cone by a plane in a way that produces a closed curve. Circles are special cases of ellipses, obtained when the cutting plane is orthogonal to the cone's axis...
profile over most of the soffit
Soffit
Soffit , in architecture, describes the underside of any construction element...
with a segmental
Circular segment
In geometry, a circular segment is an area of a circle informally defined as an area which is "cut off" from the rest of the circle by a secant or a chord. The circle segment constitutes the part between the secant and an arc, excluding the circle's center...
profile at its faces. This feature is known as a corne de vache.
When built, the arch sank by 2 inches when its timber centering was removed, and another 8 inches due to settlement of the arch foundations
Foundation (architecture)
A foundation is the lowest and supporting layer of a structure. Foundations are generally divided into two categories: shallow foundations and deep foundations.-Shallow foundations:...
.
Today it is a pedestrian-only bridge, and is in the guardianship of English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Scheduled Ancient Monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
reference number 28842. Road traffic on the A40
A40 road
The A40 is a major trunk road connecting London to Fishguard, Wales and officially called The London to Fishguard Trunk Road in all legal documents and Acts...
crosses the Severn on a new bridge alongside and upstream of it.
This is the last road bridge over the Severn before the Severn Crossings
Severn crossing
Severn crossing is a term used to refer to the two motorway crossings over the River Severn estuary between England and Wales. The two crossings are:*The Severn Bridge *The Second Severn Crossing...
, and the most downstream free crossing, although the Severn Bridge
Severn Bridge
The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and...
has free access for pedestrians, cyclists and mopeds and, as previously stated, there is no vehicular access to Over Bridge.