Dunham Bridge
in Lincolnshire.
Unfortunately the remarkable 1832 cast iron bridge was demolished in the late 1970s. The masonry piers were re-used to support the replacement steel bridge.
1831 'DUNHAM BRIDGE-— Mr. Editor,—ln the account of laying the first stone of Dunham Bridge you state Mr. Dudding to be the projector of that undertaking: I beg to inform you that is not the case—l claim that honour,— having made a plan of the proposed bridge, surveyed the ground on each side of the ferry, made a section the same, and procured several subscribers, previously to applying to Mr. Dudding to become the attorney for the act of parliament. I shall therefore feel obliged by your inserting the above, in order that I may stand fair with the public on this subject—Yours, J. S. Padley. Lincoln, April 11, 1831.'[1]
The 1832 bridge was designed by George Leather, and was of very unusual design. There were four iron spans of 118 ft. The first stone was laid on 30 March 1831, and the bridge was opened to the public on 21 April 1832.
An 1833 description is available here.[2]. Each span has five arches, each arch being assembled from five castings.
1978 Photograph here.