Plymouth
1824 Construction began of the first iron bridges to be built in England. It spanned the River Plym at Laira, east of Plymouth. It was planned by James M. Rendal, who was one of the first to foresee the possibility of using iron instead of stone in such structures. The bridge was 500 ft in length, composed of 5 elliptical arches[1]
1827 The bridge was opened by the Duchess of Clarence
Although bridging the Tamar was also proposed by Rendal it was not implemented
1887 Another bridge was opened across the River Plym at Laira - it carried the London and South Western Railway and the Great Western Railway
The bridge opened in 1887 to carry the London and South Western Railway branch to Turnchapel over the River Plym in Devon. Later the Great Western Railway also had running powers over the bridge providing access to their Yealmpton branch at Plymstock.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Engineer 1927