Irwell Bridge (Liverpool and Manchester Railway)
Crosses the River Irwell between Manchester and Salford, near Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry.
This two-span skew masonry arch bridge was built in 1830 to carry the Liverpool and Manchester Railway over the River Irwell into the heart of Manchester. The bridge was largely obscured by two later bridges built on either side. One of these is a two-span masonry bridge built in 1849 close to the south side to carry the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway.
The other was a wrought iron plate girder bridge built in 1869, with an iron column providing an intermediate support to the northern girder (see photo). Part of the parapet of the 1830 bridge was cut away to partially support the southern girder. The girder bridge was removed in 2016 as part of the new Ordsall Chord works. The 1830 bridge is being restored.
Most of the above information is drawn from the Engineering Timelines website, where much more information may be found[1].
Recent cleaning of the stonework revealed the initials 'J D' carved on the keystone of the western arch. 'J D' was John Dixon, the resident engineer on the eastern half of the railway, who was responsible for building the bridge. A keystone on the other arch has the initials 'G S' for George Stephenson, chief engineer.[2]
After crossing the river into Manchester, the railway crossed Water Street by the iron bridge shown here (since demolished).
In the 2019 photo, it is thought that the brick portion is original. The protruding portion near the camera may be the base of the water tower seen in the 1833 illustration. The chimney in that illustration served the furnace which preheated the water for the locomotives.