Summary
The Warrington Transporter Bridge (or Bank Quay Transporter Bridge) is a structural steel transporter bridge across the River Mersey in Warrington, Cheshire, England.
Warrington Transporter Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 53°23′02″N 2°36′27″W / 53.3838°N 2.6075°W |
| Carries | Vehicles Pedestrians |
| Crosses | River Mersey |
| Locale | Warrington |
| Other name(s) | Bank Quay Transporter Bridge |
| Owner | Warrington Borough Council |
| Heritage status | Grade II* |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Transporter Bridge |
| Material | Steel |
| Total length | 103 m (339 ft) |
| Width | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Height | 27 m (89 ft) |
| Longest span | 61 m (200 ft) |
| Clearance below | 23 m (76 ft) |
| History | |
| Designer | William Henry Hunter |
| Constructed by | Sir William Arrol & Co. |
| Construction start | 1913 |
| Opened | 1916 |
| Closed | 1964 |
| Location | |
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Design edit
It was designed by William Henry Hunter and built by Sir William Arrol & Co. The bridge has a span of 200 ft (61 m), is 30 ft (9.1 m) wide, 76 ft (23 m) feet above high water level, with an overall length of 339 ft (103 m) feet and a total height of 89 ft (27 m).[1]
History edit
It was constructed in 1916/7 [2] and fell into disuse in approximately 1964. The bridge was constructed to connect the two parts of the large chemical and soap works of Joseph Crosfield and Sons. It was originally designed to carry rail vehicles up to 18 long tons (18 tonnes) in weight, and was converted for road vehicles in 1940. In 1953, it was further modified to carry loads of up to 30 long tons (30 tonnes).[1]
It was the second of two transporter bridges across the Mersey at Warrington. The first was erected in 1906 and opened in 1907 [3] slightly to the north of the existing bridge and was later transformed into a pipeline bridge, before it was demolished.
It is one of three remaining such bridges in the UK.
Regeneration edit
The bridge is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building,[4] and because of its poor condition it is on the Heritage at Risk Register.[5] The bridge is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[6]
A local group called Friends of Warrington Transporter Bridge (FoWTB) was formed in April 2015 to act as the independent voice of the bridge. The group is liaising with other interest groups to safeguard the future of the bridge and its industrial heritage status.[7] FoWTB has been featured on the local BBC News programme, North West Tonight[8] and has set up a website for the bridge[7] along with Facebook and Twitter pages. In 2016, the bridge was nominated for the Institution of Civil Engineers North West Heritage Award.[9]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Rennison, p. 267
- ^ still under construction at January 1917 (Liverpool Echo 3 January 1917)
- ^ Runcorn Examiner 18 May 1907
- ^ Historic England, "Transporter Bridge to part of Joseph Crosfield and Sons Ltd's works, Warrington (1139433)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 28 August 2012
- ^ Bank Quay Transporter Bridge, Warrington, English Heritage, retrieved 28 August 2012
- ^ Historic England, "Bank Quay Transporter Bridge, Warrington (1006768)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 28 August 2012
- ^ a b "Warrington Transporter Bridge", Friends of Warrington Transporter Bridge, retrieved 14 June 2015
- ^ "Warrington Transporter Bridge on North West Tonight", YouTube, archived from the original on 22 December 2021, retrieved 18 June 2015
- ^ North West - civil engineering awards, Institution of Civil Engineers, retrieved 15 February 2016
- Bibliography
- Rennison, R.W., "Civil Engineering Heritage : Northern England", Thomas Telford Publishing, 2nd edn., 1996, ISBN 0-7277-2518-1
- Thompson, Dave, "Bridging the Years", MailBook Publishing, 2000
External links edit
- Official website
- Map sources for Warrington Transporter Bridge
- Picture on geograph
- "Bank Quay transporter bridge, Warrington – Warrington (UA)", English Heritage, Heritage at Risk Register
- Heritage at Risk Register: Warrington+Transporter