Montford Bridge

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Montford Bridge
Montford bridge.jpg
Montford Bridge
Shropshire UK location map.svg
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Montford Bridge
Location within Shropshire
OS grid reference SJ431152
Civil parish
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town SHREWSBURY
Postcode district SY4
Dialling code 01743
Police West Mercia
Fire Shropshire
Ambulance West Midlands
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Shropshire
52°43′55″N2°50′31″W / 52.732°N 2.842°W / 52.732; -2.842 Coordinates: 52°43′55″N2°50′31″W / 52.732°N 2.842°W / 52.732; -2.842

Montford Bridge is a village in Shropshire, England, and also the name of the bridge in that village.

Contents

Montford Bridge, 1794 Montford Bridge, 1794.jpg
Montford Bridge, 1794

It lies on the River Severn and is close to the town of Shrewsbury. Most of the village is in the Montford parish, but some is covered by the Bicton parish.

The A5 road used to run through the village (over the Montford Bridge), but has been diverted via the Shrewsbury bypass. There are still some services, such as a shop (closed as of 2011) and a pub (the Wingfield Arms), in the village.

The bridge was Thomas Telford's first bridge design. It was built by John Carline and John Tilley between 1790 and 1792. It has three masonry elliptical arch spans, two of 55 ft, and the central one of 58 ft. [1]

They are built of red sandstone obtained from Nesscliffe Hill four miles distant. The bridge cost £5,800 to build. [2] Regarding the bridge, Telford wrote: [2]

The contractors, Messrs. Carline and Tilley, being experienced workmen, it has proved a substantial edifice, having been completed upwards of forty years, and remaining quite perfect

It was widened in 1963 by adding a reinforced concrete slab. The bridge is now a Grade II listed building. [3] [4]

See also

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References

  1. Telford, T. (1838). The Life of Telford. p. 28.
  2. 1 2 Telford , p. 29
  3. borough council Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. English Heritage

Bibliography