Swansea Slip Bridge
in Swansea
See here for an illustrated account of the bridge's past, present and future [1]. This source states that the bridge was initially taken down to be checked, but it quickly became apparent the removal might be permanent. The decision was taken to relocate the bridge to the promenade where it would become a permanent feature.
SWANSEA SANDS. NEW BRIDGE FROM VICTORIA PARK OPENED.
A fine bridge for pedestrian traffic connecting the Victoria Park with the sands at Swansea, and designed to carry the public over the Mumbles-road, the London and North Western Railway, and the Mumbles Railway, was formally opened on Thursday afternoon by Alderman John H. Lee (chairman the parks committee). The structure is a massive one at a commanding elevation, the piers being of masonry and the span of steel. The engineer specially engaged by the corporation was Mr. Howard Humphries, and the contract for the ironwork was carried out Messrs. Rees and Kirby, Morriston, at £1,258; and that for the masonry by Messrs. Muirhead and Co., London, at £3,199, making the contract cost £4,457.
Alderman Lee, declaring the bridge open in the presence of large crowd, said that for years the lack of facilities for crossing to Swansea sands had been felt, and the parks committee had been dealing with the matter for some time. Difficulties and obstacles had presented themselves. .... The Mayor (Alderman Dan Jones) hoped that would be the commencement of a larger scheme which would develop their marvellous sands, which were the envy many other towns, and that the bridge would later be combined with pavilion on the park side and a pier seawards. When the time came that the money could be spared they would be bound to provide the increasing number of visitors with proper accommodation and shelter.'[2]