Iron Footbridge, 131 High Street, Hungerford
in Hungerford, West Berkshire
This is an early and unusual example of an iron footbridge. The bridge and associated wrought iron tracery porch were constructed c.1800, when the height of the road in front of the house was raised for the approach to the bridge built over the new Kennet and Avon Canal.[1]
The bridge and porches are Grade II listed. See British Listed Buildings webpage.
The main structure of the bridge comprises a pair of cast iron girders, each apparently made as a single casting. On one side the top and bottom members have been repaired using bolted fishplates. The deck is assembled from cast iron plates with shallow ribs on the underside. The plates are bolted to the top flanges of the girders. The railings and the lamp arch are wrought iron.