Rainbow Bridge (formally High Bridge) is a curved footbridge over the

River Cherwell A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of its course if it ru ...

in the

University Parks The Oxford University Parks, commonly referred to locally as the University Parks, or just The Parks, is a large parkland area slightly northeast of the city centre in Oxford, England. The park is bounded to the east by the River Cherwell, tho ...

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

.The University Parks, Oxford — Introduction
an
historical guide

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

, UK. The bridge is made of concrete with metal railings, in the shape of a

rainbow A rainbow is an optical phenomenon caused by refraction, internal reflection and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a continuous spectrum of light appearing in the sky. The rainbow takes the form of a multicoloured circular ...

, hence the name. The bridge was constructed in 1923–4, through a project for the unemployed. The bridge was financed by the

, colleges at the University, and individual subscribers. In the summer months, there are often punts travelling along the river under the bridge and there is a good view up and down the river from the top. On the other side of the bridge from the Parks there is a footpath that leads across the meadows to the suburb of

New Marston New Marston is a suburb about northeast of the centre of Oxford, England. History New Marston is built on land that was originally part of the Manorialism, manor of Headington. It was rural until the 19th century, when housing began to develop ...

GW.

References

Bridges completed in 1927 Bridges in Oxford Buildings and structures of the University of Oxford Tourist attractions in Oxford Pedestrian bridges in England Arch bridges in the United Kingdom Concrete bridges in England {{UK-bridge-struct-stub