Wilford Suspension Bridge

Wilford Suspension Bridge, also known as Meadows Suspension Bridge,[2] was originally known as the Welbeck Suspension Bridge. It is a combined suspension pedestrian footbridge[1] and aqueduct which crosses the River Trent, linking the town of West Bridgford to the Meadows, in the city of Nottingham, England.[1] It also carries a gas main.

Wilford Suspension Bridge
Wilford Suspension Bridge as viewed from the Meadows
Coordinates	52.9332°N 1.1393°W
OS grid reference	SK 57936 37665
Carries	Pedestrians, water main and gas pipelines
Crosses	River Trent[1][2]
Locale	City of Nottingham[1][2]
Other name(s)	Meadows Suspension Bridge[2]
Owner	originally: Nottingham Corporation Water Department, then: Severn Trent Water Authority, now: Severn Trent Water[3]
Heritage status	Grade II listed structure[1][2]
Preceded by	Wilford Toll Bridge
Followed by	Trent Bridge
Characteristics
Design	Suspension bridge[1]
Material	Stone-clad towers, twin dual steel suspension cables, ashlar and steel[1][2]
Width	12 feet (3.7 metres)
Traversable?	Yes
Longest span	225 feet (69 metres)
No. of spans	One
History
Architect	Arthur Brown
Engineering design by	Elliott & Brown
Constructed by	Nottingham Corporation Water Department
Construction cost	£8,871 (equivalent to £890,000 in 2019),[4]
Opened	1906[1][2]
Rebuilt	2008–2010[3]
Location

The bridge is owned by Severn Trent Water.[3] It should not be confused with the separate Wilford Toll Bridge.

There is no public right of way along the bridge, and so it can be closed by Severn Trent Water whenever it is deemed expedient to do so.

It is a Grade II listed structure.[1][2]

History

The bridge was designed by the architect Arthur Brown,[5] of Elliott & Brown (Civil and Structural Engineering Consultancy). The plans were drawn up by Frank Beckett Lewis, the City Architect. It was constructed by the Nottingham Corporation Water Department at a cost of £8,871 (equivalent to £890,000 in 2019),[4] with the principal purpose of carrying water to Wilford Hill reservoir.

Responsibility for the bridge was transferred from the Nottingham Corporation Water Department to the Severn Trent Water Authority in April 1974, upon the reorganisation of the water industry in England and Wales, and subsequently to Severn Trent Water in 1989 prior to the privatisation of the water industry.

Following a restoration in 1983,[2] the bridge was closed to pedestrians in July 2008 for a major restoration, following reports of falling debris.[6][3] It re-opened on 12 February 2010 after a £1.9m refurbishment.[3]

Technical details

• Gas main — two 12 inches (30 centimetres) diameter pipes
• Water main — one 14 inches (36 centimetres) diameter pipe

See also

• List of crossings of the River Trent

References

1. Historic England. "Footbridge over River Trent (that part in Nottingham Civil Parish) (1270440)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
2. Historic England. "Meadows Suspension Bridge (1237034)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
3. "Wilford suspension bridge set to reopen". ThisIsNottingham.co.uk. Northcliffe Media Limited. 11 February 2010. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012.
4. UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
5. Elain Harwood (2008). Nottingham: city guides. Pevsner architectural guides. London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-12666-2.
6. "More details emerge on future of Wilford Suspension Bridge". ThisIsNottingham.co.uk. Northcliffe Media Limited. 26 November 2008. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012.

Further reading

• Palmer, M; Neaverson, P (1992). Industrial Landscapes of the East Midlands. p. 141.
• Williamson, E (1979). The Buildings of England: Nottinghamshire. p. 248.