Gunthorpe Bridge

Gunthorpe Bridge
Photo of New Gunthorpe Bridge
Coordinates	52°59′10″N0°59′15″W / 52.9862°N 0.9874°W / 52.9862; -0.9874
Carries	A6097
Crosses	River Trent
Characteristics
Longest span	38.1 metres (125 ft)
History
Opened	Old Bridge c1925. New Bridge c1927.
Location

Gunthorpe Bridge refers two crossings across the River Trent at Gunthorpe, Nottinghamshire. The first cast-iron bridge was built in the Victorian era using a Local Act of Parliament. However due to its weak load limit, the advent of heavier motor vehicles resulted in a replacement crossing being built further upstream in the 1920s.

History

Original bridge

Gunthorpe Bridge Act 1870
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to authorise the construction of a Bridge over the river Trent in the county of Nottingham, and Roads and Approaches thereto, to be called "the Gunthorpe Bridge."
Citation	33 & 34 Vict. c. xxxii
Dates
Royal assent	20 June 1870
Other legislation
Repealed by	Nottinghamshire County Council (Gunthorpe Bridge) Act 1925
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

Until 1875, the only way to cross the River Trent at this point was to use a ferry or ford. This was limiting commerce in the area so the Brititish Parliamnet agreed that a permanent crossing was required. The Gunthorpe Bridge Company was formed following the passing of the Gunthorpe Bridge Act 1870 (33 & 34 Vict. c. xxxii). Capital of £7,500 (equivalent to $910,000in 2023), ^[1] to build the cast-iron truss bridge was raised through the sale of £10 shares. The foundation stone was laid in 1873 and the new bridge opened to traffic in 1875.

Crossing tolls were set as follows:

• horse and carriage 1/-,
• horse and wagon 6d,
• horse alone 3d,
• people and passengers 1d,
• motorcycles 3d,
• cars 1/-
• lorries 2/6,

Second bridge

Nottinghamshire County Council (Gunthorpe Bridge) Act 1925
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	15 & 16 Geo. 5. c. lvii
Dates
Royal assent	31 July 1925
Other legislation
Repealed by	Nottinghamshire County Council Act 1985
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Victorian structure began to show its age with the introduction of motor vehicles. With a maximum limit of 6,000 kg (13,000 lb), heavier commercial traffic such as trucks and vans were unable to use the crossing. ^[2] The Nottinghamshire County Council (Gunthorpe Bridge) Act 1925 (15 & 16 Geo. 5. c. lvii) empowered Nottinghamshire County Council to buy out the Gunthorpe Bridge Company, demolish the old bridge and replace it with the present one.

The current bridge, which is a three span, reinforced concrete arch bridge, was built in 1927. It is 400 m (1,300 ft) upstream from Old Gunthorpe Bridge. In conjunction with the new bridge, was a new bypass around the village of Gunthorpe and East Bridgford. ^{[3] [4]} The central arch has a span of 38 m (125 ft) while the two side arches span 31 m (102 ft). All three arches are supported by four concrete ribs. ^[5]

See also

Next road crossing upstream	River Trent	Next road crossing downstream
Lady Bay Bridge  A6011	Gunthorpe Bridge  A6097  Grid reference SK680436	A617  Kelham Bridge
Next bridge upstream	River Trent	Next bridge downstream
Rectory Junction Viaduct	Gunthorpe Bridge  A6097  Grid reference SK680436	Averham Viaduct

• List of crossings of the River Trent

References

1. UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth . Retrieved 7 May 2024.
2. "Trent Valley Way: Nottingham to Gunthorpe - Midlands Walk". Hill Explorer. Gunthorpe Toll Bridge information board
3. "Towns and Villages Around Nottingham | Gunthorpe". www.visitoruk.com.
4. "Geograph:: The old Gunthorpe Toll bridge (C) Alan Murray-Rust". www.geograph.org.uk.
5. Simon A. Austin (1996). Sprayed concrete technology. American Concrete Institute, Sprayed Concrete Association.