Trent Bridge, Gainsborough is a road bridge crossing of the
River Trent
The Trent is the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, third-longest river in the United Kingdom. Its Source (river or stream), source is in Staffordshire, on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through and drains the North Midland ...
at
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough is a market town, inland port and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. The town population was 20,842 at the 2011 census, and estimated at 23,243 in 2019. It lies on the east bank of the River Trent ...
.
History
The bridge was built by the civil engineer,
William Weston between 1787 and 1791. It is a handsome and substantial three span bridge in ashlar masonry. The overall width was 26 ft 3in, although cantilevered walkways have been added subsequently.
The bridge is Weston's only known work in Britain as he left in 1792 from
Falmouth for the
United States of America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...
for the
Schuylkill and Susquehanna Navigation Company
The Schuylkill and Susquehanna Navigation Company was a limited liability corporation founded in Pennsylvania on September 29, 1791. Reprint of 1990 volume.
The company was founded for the purpose of improving river navigation, which in the post ...
as canal engineer and superintendent.
[Kirby, Richard Shelton. "William Weston and his contribution to early American engineering." Transactions of the Newcomen Society 16.1 (1935): 111-127.]
When completed it was the only bridge across the
River Trent
The Trent is the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, third-longest river in the United Kingdom. Its Source (river or stream), source is in Staffordshire, on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through and drains the North Midland ...
downstream of
Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent or Newark () is a market town and civil parish in the Newark and Sherwood district in Nottinghamshire, England. It is on the River Trent, and was historically a major inland port. The A1 road (Great Britain), A1 road bypasses th ...
.
In 1932 a white metal medallion was issued to celebrate the freeing of the toll bridge. The toll bridge was purchased 31 October 1927 for £130,000 and freed from toll on 31 March 1932.
Toll charges
A toll was payable from opening until 1932. The bridge was a commercial success from the start.
[Civil engineering heritage: Eastern and central England. E. A. Labrum]
Transport
The bridge carries the
road
A road is a linear way for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians. Unlike streets, the main function of roads is transportation.
There are many types of ...
See also
*
List of crossings of the River Trent
This is a list of crossings of the River Trent, a major river flowing through the Midlands of England.
The table lists crossings that have been identified downstream from the River Sow confluence, the first major tributary on the river. Starting ...
References
{{Authority control
Bridges in Lincolnshire
Grade II listed buildings in Lincolnshire
Bridges across the River Trent
Bridges completed in 1791
Former toll bridges in England
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire