Fleet Street Bridge (Swindon)

No longer extant.

1878 'FLEET STREET BRIDGE. — The operations in connection with the erection of the new bridge, which will provide a new and more commodious route to the station, were commenced on Monday morning early. The North Wilts Canal was dammed on either side of the site of operations, and as the water was drawn off, a great deal interest was manifested in the catching of the various kinds of fish which were left floundering "high and dry" in the mud. The bridge will be built at about the same level as that the Golden Lion, and so will avoid the awkard rise which is such a nuisance at Bullen's Bridge, which it will no doubt in a great measure supersede, as it will provide an almost straight road from the station to Rushey Platt. Messrs. Edwards are the contractors, and the structure will stand on a solidly built brick and stone foundation on a bed of concrete, and will be constructed so as to swing round when any boats require to pass (which, judging by the traffic on the canal of late, will be but seldom). The roadway will be 9ft. 6in. wide and the footway 6ft. 6in. We believe that the money, excepting £150, the amount of expenses incurred in the erection of this bridge, is promised, and we hope the remainder will soon be paid.— On Thursday morning a considerable number of people assembled on the canal banks to witness the ceremony of laying the foundation stones of the structure. The two stones were then laid by Miss Barker, daughter ot the hon. sec. of the comnittee and by Miss Westlake, daughter of the chairman of the committee.'

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