Designed & Maintained By Carol Gingell
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Bridges Of The Norfolk Broads
The River Wensum
Foundry Bridge -
Foundry Bridge -
This site is another one of the later river crossings in Norwich. The first bridge was opened in 1811, was built of timber and Portland stone with cast iron railings and was another toll bridge. The bridge gave little room for boats to pass underneath and, when the first Thorpe rail station was opened in 1844, a new cast iron bridge designed by C. Atkinson was also installed. The foundry, from which the bridge derives its name, stood just downstream of where the Nelson Hotel now stands. Its tall chimney can be seen on the early photograph of the bridge.
Over the next few decades the increase in industrial and residential development meant that the bridge became too narrow to cope with the demands being placed upon it. When the new Thorpe Station was built in 1886, the bridge was also replaced at a cost of £12,000, opening in January 1888. The bridge was apparently assembled in the station yard and then rolled across the road onto the existing stone abutments. The Great Eastern Hotel stood beside the bridge for many years until, in 1963, it was demolished and the Nelson Hotel was erected in its place.
The second Foundry Bridge pictured c1880 by Stacy -
Lady Julian Bridge -
The newest bridge to span the River Wensum in Norwich. Given the temporary name of Old Barge Yard Bridge whilst under construction, the Lady Julian Bridge opened in August 2009 and cost around £2.5 million to build. The costs were mainly funded by contributions from Riverside developers with additional monies from the East Of England Development Agency and the Greater Norwich Development Partnership.
This pedestrian/cycle swing bridge connects the riverside area of the city to King Street and was named after a competition was launched for the public to enter suitable suggestions. The lady Julian Bridge is named after the medieval mystic “Mother Julian” of Norwich who was born in 1342 and lived in a cell attached to St. Julian’s Church in King Street. She wrote “Revelations Of Divine Love” which documented the visions she experienced, and it is believed to have been the first book written in the UK by a woman.
Lady Julian Bridge under construction -
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Novi Sad Friendship Bridge -
Novi Sad Friendship Bridge -
The Novi Sad Friendship Bridge also links King Street to the riverside area of Norwich. The Serbian (former Yugoslavian) town of Novi Sad is one of Norwich’s twin towns and a link between the two was set up over 40 years ago after visits between city officials. The bridge was opened for pedestrians and cyclists in November 2001 and is an asymmetric, cable stayed swing bridge which can open by rotating on its central pier should any large ships enter the city. The bridge cost around £800,000 to build.
Carrow Bridge -
The second Carrow Bridge pictured c1890 by Stacy -
The current Carrow Bridge pictured c1925
The first Carrow Bridge was built as a toll bridge in 1810 and stood 500 feet downstream from where the current one now lies, connecting Carrow Hill to Carrow Road. It was a fixed bridge with a cast iron arch and stood in an area that was considerably more rural than it is today. In 1833 the bridge was replaced by a double bascule lifting bridge as larger seagoing vessels began to make their way up to the city. As both road and river traffic increased during the latter half of the 19th century, and early part of the 20th century, it was decided that another new bridge would be needed. Colmans mustard factory had now expanded it’s factory either side of the bridge and, under pressure from them, the new bridge was constructed further upstream, the road being diverted to take traffic across it.
The current bridge was designed by A.E. Collins who was the city engineer and was
built by J.Butler & Co. of Leeds. The new single-
Whilst dredging the river during construction in 1922 a Bronze Age copper alloy spearhead was found. Further remnants of the city’s medieval defences can be seen on the riverbanks on either side, just downstream of the bridge. The ruins of the two boom towers remain which were once used to guard the city from attack via the river, heavy chains being suspended between them.
Trowse Swing Bridge -
Trowse Station was the original terminus of the Ipswich to Norwich railway line before a rail bridge was constructed across the Wensum to extend the line to Thorpe station. For many years it was the station at which livestock were unloaded before being herded up to the cattle market in front of Norwich castle. In 1892 the Great eastern Railway reported that 95,000 beasts, 137,000 sheep and 14,000 pigs were received there. The new Thorpe Station was built in the city in 1844 and the first Trowse rail bridge was opened in 1845 and was the first swing bridge in the world. Originally the line was part of the Norwich and Brandon Railway, and then it became part of the combined Norfolk Railway Company before finally becoming part of the Great Eastern Railway Company.
In 2003, Network Rail caused uproar amongst river users when they welded the rails
shut, thus preventing the bridge from being able to open to allow masted boats to
reach the city. Network rail claimed that the problem was caused by a delay in receiving
the custom made scarf rail joints which were needed for repairs and the bridge was
finally re-
The bridge was rebuilt c1900 and remained in use until 1987 when the current bridge was installed. Where the original had been the first swing bridge in the world, the new bridge was the first overhead electric swing bridge in the UK.
Trowse Swing Bridge pictured in the early 1900s by A.A. King -
Trowse Swing Bridge -
Carrow Bridge -
