Victoria Bridge, Glasgow

Victoria Bridge is a category A listed road bridge spanning the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland.[1] Victoria Bridge is the oldest surviving bridge in Glasgow, lying at the foot of Stockwell Street in the city centre.[2]

Victoria Bridge, Glasgow

Looking over the bridge

Victoria Bridge Silver Epergne gifted to builder William York, Esq. Hallmarked London, 1854

History

Victoria Bridge is built on the site of the first recorded bridge over the Clyde; a timber bridge believed to exist in 1285 and described as "Glaskow bryg, that byggt was of tre" in Henry the Minstrel's epic poem on Sir William Wallace.[3] In 1345 Bishop William Rae replaced the timber bridge with the Bishop's Bridge, located on the same site. Bishop's Bridge was originally 12 feet (3.7 m) wide, but was widened by 10 feet (3.0 m) in 1777.[4]

By 1851 Glasgow's population had risen to 329,000[5] having doubled in the previous 25 years and the old bridge couldn't cope with current demands, and needed to be replaced.

Construction

A new masonry arch bridge was designed by James Walker and constructed by William Scott, although some references name William York, Esquire as the builder.[6][7] The bridge has five segmental arches which vary in span from 20.4 meters to the widest in the center, which measures 24.4 m wide.[8] The construction replaced Bishop's bridge, with foundations 6 meters below those of the old bridge, and timber piles which were steam-driven a further 4 meters below that.[9]

Named after Queen Victoria, when the bridge opened in 1854, Glasgow had one of the two widest bridges in Britain – London's widest at that time was only 54 feet (16 m).[10]

The bridge carries the western arm of the A8 across the River Clyde. It is one way city-bound with 2 lanes. However, it also has a contraflow Bus, Cycle and Taxi lane. It is complemented by the Albert Bridge on the other side of the railway bridge, which is also two-way.

On the northern shore, the A8 immediately crosses the A814, to take Bridgegate towards Glasgow Cross. Meanwhile, on the southern shore, the A8 takes Gorbals Street as far as Norfolk Street, which is the A8 in both directions, Gorbals Street becoming the A730.

References

1. Stuff, Good. "Glasgow, River Clyde, Victoria Bridge, Glasgow, Glasgow". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
2. "Victoria Bridge from The Gazetteer for Scotland". Retrieved 23 January 2018.
3. "Victoria Bridge History". Glasgow City Council. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
4. Historic Environment Scotland. "Glasgow, Stockwell Street, Victoria Bridge (44283)". Canmore. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
5. "History of Census". Glasgow University. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
6. Laurie, William Alexander; (sir.), David Brewster (1859). The history of free masonry and the Grand lodge of Scotland. Seton & Mackenzie.
7. "Engineering Timelines - Victoria Bridge, Glasgow". www.engineering-timelines.com. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
8. "Engineering Timelines - Victoria Bridge, Glasgow". www.engineering-timelines.com. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
9. ICE Scotland. "Glasgow's Clyde Bridges" (PDF). Clyde Waterfront. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
10. Dunn, Etta (15 June 2014). Central Glasgow Through Time. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445638874.