Hough Lane Bridge (Salford)
1870 'The new suspension bridge which has been erected at the foot of Hough-lane, between Broughton and Peel Park, was opened on Saturday by the Mayor of Salford (T. Davies, Esq.) His worship and the members of the Museum, Park, and Library Committee, assembled in the Library, Peel Park, and thence walked in procession to the bridge, where they took up a position on the right side of the river. Here they were joined by the members of the Bridge Committee, who had assembled at the Broughton Town Hall. The two processions, which included a number of policemen and the Broughton fire brigade, having reformed, they crossed the bridge to the Broughton side, where his worship declared the bridge open to the public. He said that in opening the bridge he believed they were offering a very great convenience to the inhabitants of Broughton, and one which they had a perfect right to years ago, but from which they had been hitherto debarred. The bridge is 135 ft. in length, but the entire length of the structure is 240 ft. The footway is 6ft. wide, and the ironwork, or which there are some 20 tons, rests upon two stone piers while the chains are attached to anchors of considerable weight on each bank of the river. The total cost of the bridge, which has been defrayed wholly out of the Broughton rates, is about £1,000. The engineers are Messrs. Cawley and Newton, who supplied the plans free of cost; and the contractors for the ironwork Messrs. W. Mabon and Co, Ardwick, and for the mason work Mr. E. Johnson, builder. The proceedings were brought to a close on the passing of votes of thanks to Mr. R. Grassland (the chairman of the Bridge Committee) and the Mayor.'[1]
1899 'THE STORMY WEATHER.
SERIOUS FLOODS. NEW BRIDGE SWEPT AWAY ON THE IRWELL
The recent heavy rains have converted the usually sluggish Irwell into torrential stream and soon after six o'clock this morning the partially constructed bridge which was to replace the old suspension bridge connecting Hough Lane, Lower Broughton, with Peel Park was swept away and totally destroyed, damage being done to the extent of quite £1,000.
The work of erecting the bridge was commenced some two months ago by the contractors, Messrs. De Berque and Company, Limited. A temporary wooden staging had been thrown across the river and the work of bolting the steel lattice girder bridge together had been well advanced. When completed the iron work of the suspension bridge was to be removed and the new structure put on to the old piers. The new bridge, which was to be of a much more substantial character than the one which has done duty for the last thirty years, was decided upon in consequence of the unsatisfactory, if not unsafe character of the old one- It was to be much wider and have a span of 132 feet.
At the time the disaster occurred the river was about eleven feet above its normal level, with a racing current. As to which'part of the bridge first gave way there is some conflict, but certain it is that when once the structure had been weakened the rest followed with startling rapidity. Hardly a vestige of the structure was left, but just below the spot great baulks of timber and heavy steel girders were to be seen. Happily the workmen had not yet started or there would in all probability have been loss of life as well as loss of property. Two constables are now on duty at each end of the suspension bridge, as is not deemed advisable allow mere than two or three people to cross at the same time. At eleven o'clock this morning the water had fallen nearly a foot, so that unless there is another heavy and continuous downpour there is no likelihood of serious floods in Lower Broughton. Already some little inconvenience has however, been occasioned to manufacturers on the banks of the river at Lower Broughton, and in one or two instances where basements have been flooded work has had to be stopped. At the present time the river is said to be nearly two feet lower than it was during the floods of 1896.'[2]
See here for a zoomable 1900 photo of the replacement bridge.[3]