The High Bridge was built around 1160 at the point where Lincoln High Street crosses the River Witham.

High Bridge is the oldest bridge in Britain to have buildings actually constructed on it. Soon after being built, it was extended east to accomodate a chapel in memory of the martyred archbishop Thomas Becket, which stood here until 1763. In medieval times the bridge became the city’s main point for meat and fish trading. The river here is shallow, however, preventing larger boats getting through. It was only the cost of demolition that saved the bridge from being pulled down in 1803.*

*From the Pitkin City Guide to Lincoln

The original bridge that spanned the gap between the parish of Brosley and Sutton Maddock was constructed of wood leading to the adjacent inn being named ‘The Woodbridge‘.

The name ‘Woodbridge’ comes from the bridge adjacent to the pub which connects the parish of Brosley on the south bank of the river and Sutton Maddock on the north bank. Architect and bridge builder William Hayward designed the bridge, which was the first crossing of the Severn at Coalport. His scheme encompassed two timber-framed arches built on stone abutments and a pier, and was opened in 1780.

The opening of the bridge was somewhat played down as the impending showcase “Iron Bridge” further upstream was already being trumpeted as a technical masterpiece. The wooden bridge did not survive long unfortunately, as the central pier was severely damaged by flooding in a storm in 1795.

As you can see the current bridge is no longer constructed of wood:

After the destruction of 1795, the bridge remained closed until the Trustees, of what was to become known as Coalport Bridge, had it rebuilt in 1799 as a hybrid of wood, brick and cast-iron parts, cast by John Onions. The two original spans were removed and replaced by a single span of three cast iron ribs, which sprang from the original outer sandstone pier bases. The bridge deck was further supported by two square brick piers, the northern one constructed directly on top of the stone pier base and the southern one set back slightly towards the river bank. The remainder of the superstructure was built of wood and may have reused some of the original beams. However by 1817, this bridge was failing again, attributed to the insufficient number of cast iron ribs proving inadequate for the volume of traffic. Consequently, the bridge proprietors decided to rebuild Coalport Bridge once again, but this time they chose to do so completely in iron.
The date of 1818 displayed on the bridge’s midspan panel refers to this substantial work which allowed the bridge to stand without major repairs, for the next 187 years.

The full history can be viewed here.

From Bridges on the Tyne:

The Swing Bridge has always been one of the most interesting bridges on the Tyne, as until the Gateshead Millennium Bridge came along, it was the only one that moved. Opened in 1876, it was necessary to replace the old Georgian Bridge in almost the same location which was low level and prevented larger vessels from moving up river or above bridge as it was called. This meant that keels were needed to transport coal from the riverbank staiths at Dunston, Derwenthaugh and beyond to the ships further down river, an inefficient and time-consuming process. Armstrongs factories at Elswick were held back due to the impossibility of ships reaching there.

The fact that the Public and Commercial Services trade union had called a strike on Wednesday gave me the excuse to take an extra day off and accompany Mr C to Newcastle where he was delivering a training course on Thursday.  I have fond memories of business trips to Newcastle a number of years ago and I was long overdue another visit.  Those of you who read me regularly will know that Northumberland is one of my favourite parts of the world.

I got my bits and pieces ready in the morning and set off for the north just after lunch.  By the time we reached Leeming Bar it was time for a refreshing cup of tea at a motorway service station.  It was distinctly chilly when I stepped out of the car, but on setting foot inside the service station I realised that it was even more chilly inside!!  Then I sat on the wooden chair…  Needless to say I didn’t take my coat off and I drank my tea quickly before it went cold.

Once in Newcastle we drove a couple of circuits trying to spot the hotel and then as every good photographer knows to do I looked up.  I could just see the neon  sign of the Hotel Vermont peeping out from behind another wall and luckily there was one last space on the car park.  As I entered the hotel I noticed a Ferrari and a Rolls Royce flanking either side of the entrance door.

The hotel reception is currently being refurbished and a temporary reception was set up at one end of the dining room.  Booking in was a little cramped. The reservation had been for up to two people but they never did ask who the second person was and there was none of the usual signing a registration document…

There was just enough time to unpack before going down to dinner.  The weather was a little bit iffy so we stayed in the hotel for a meal.  For some reason we got free veg and free drinks at the end of the meal although we did have to retreat to the other side of the dining room for the drinks, it had dropped decidedly chilly outside and there was an avalanche of cold air coming off the windows!

As you can see from the photo I dropped lucky and got a ‘room with a view‘ again

The historic grounds at Compton Verney are registered as a Grade II* listed parkland. Most of what you see in the grounds is the result of a long-term project to restore many of the features which Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown (1716 – 1783) created after 1768. Brown was commissioned by John Verney, 14th Baron Willoughby de Broke (1738 – 1816) to redesign the landscape at Compton Verney. Brown’s resulting landscape typified his minimalist approach to parkland, with its sweeping vistas, viewpoints and imaginative use of water.*

*Info from the Compton Verney Grounds leaflet.

[Capability] Brown changed the direction of the approach to the house and merged the five separate pools into the central lake, which he crossed with two new bridges. The Upper Bridge of 1770, guarded by four lead sphinxes, is thought to have been designed either by Brown or by architect Robert Adam.*

*From the Compton Verney Grounds leaflet.

I am now taking you on a little detour just outside Shugborough across the Essex Bridge:

The Essex Bridge links Shugborough to the village of Great Hayward at the point where the rivers Trent and Sow join.

It is believed to be the longest packhorse bridge ever constructed and was built in the late 16th century. The financing of the project was funded by the Earls of Essex who used the bridge to access the hunting forest of Canks Wood – now Cannock Chase – from their home at Chartley Castle a short distance away. Originally it boasted 42 arches but it is believed the bridge was shortened in size in the early 19th century when a new channel for the River Sow was dug. Today it spans over 100 yards and has 14 arches.*

*From the Shugborough guide book.