Tramway Bridge

The Tramway Bridge is a grade II listed pedestrian bridge crossing the River Avon at Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England.

Tramway Bridge

The bridge was built in 1823, originally to carry a tramway track of the horse-drawn Stratford and Moreton Tramway. It was designed by John Urpeth Rastrick. It consists of eight elliptical arches, and is made from brick, with ashlar-coped parapets.[1]

The tramway had fallen into disuse by 1904, and the track was lifted in 1918.[2] It has since then been used a public footbridge, and is an important element in the landscape around the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The bridge gained grade II listing in 1951.[1] In 2010 the local council fitted strip lights down on the footway to simulate the historic tracks, however these were abandoned in 2020 after they repeatedly broke down.[3]

The bridge is around 100 metres (330 ft) to the west of, and downstream from the much older Clopton Bridge which dates from the 15th century.[4]

Two further relics of the old tramway are located immediately to the north of the bridge: An old toll house known as Tramway House at the northern end of the bridge which is also grade II listed.[5] And a restored wagon of the tramway, which is located and displayed about 60 metres (200 ft) to the north of the bridge, with an information board about the history of the tramway.[1]

  • Tramway Bridge, with Clopton Bridge in the background
    Tramway Bridge, with Clopton Bridge in the background
  • View from the bridge deck, looking west
    View from the bridge deck, looking west
  • Tramway House, former toll house adjacent to the bridge.
    Tramway House, former toll house adjacent to the bridge.

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tramway Bridge.
  1. "Old Tramway Bridge A Grade II Listed Building in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  2. "GWR Route: Moreton-in-Marsh to Stratford upon Avon Tramway". Warwickshire Railways. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  3. "Council calls time on problematic Tramway Bridge lights". Stratford Herald. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  4. "Tramway Bridge, Stratford upon Avon". Our Warwickshire. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  5. "Tramway House A Grade II Listed Building in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 18 February 2022.

52.191075°N 1.701431°W / 52.191075; -1.701431

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