Bury Bridge

Bury Bridge

A road bridge of medieval origin with successive phases of reconstruction and extension dating from the late 18th century through to the late 20th century.

The bridge comprises materials spanning its long development: trencherbone sandstone, gritstone and reinforced concrete. It follows a triple-span rectangular plan, aligned roughly east-west, with a splayed western end.

The Medieval Core

The original medieval bridge survives in the east and central pointed arches of the south (downstream) elevation, along with fragmentary evidence of the original segmental west arch. The original arches span approximately 8.30 metres and are roughly 2 metres wide, with recessed voussoirs that have been rendered and scored to resemble ashlar blocks, matching the gritstone parapet installed in 1883. The triangular cutwaters on the piers have been reduced in height, capped and rendered. The arch soffits are coated with Spraycrete, thin enough to reveal the underlying stone slab voussoirs, and where this coating has spalled away, ashlar blocks remain visible. A straight joint in the soffit of the fragmentary western section marks where the later segmental arch was inserted.

Post-1784 Reconstruction and Extension

This phase comprises three segmental trencherbone sandstone arches with apexes matching those of the original bridge. A slightly angled abutment with a projecting pier extends from the west bank, rising to a canted concrete beam that reaches the west cutwater. The west arch spans 9.64 metres with a width of approximately 4 metres, retaining a fragmentary section of the original medieval springing within it. The centre and east arches, each roughly 2 metres wide, are built against and obscure the north elevation of the medieval structure. Four pairs of timber centring corbels project just below the springing line of the arches.

Post-1843 Extension

Three segmental gritstone arches abut and obscure the north elevation of the previous phase. These arches are 4.05 metres wide with profiles matching the second phase, though the eastern end of the easternmost arch is skewed and widens towards the north. Two pairs of timber centring corbels project from just below the springing line of the centre and east arches.

The 1883 Extension

This phase was built against and obscures the north elevation of the 1843 work. The north elevation comprises three segmental gritstone arches with stepped ashlar voussoirs. The spandrels are faced with coursed tooled blocks, and slightly projecting piers rise from lobe-like cutwaters that are skewed to align with the river's flow. The central and east arches have centring corbels at their springing lines. The parapet wall on the south side is ashlar gritstone with a smooth inner elevation; the outer elevation features recessed panels with two rectangular posts between them, capped with plain copings, positioned over the bridge piers. A further projecting post over the central arch supports a cartouche with an inverted and rebated shield frame displaying the arms of the County Borough of Bury. The cartouche bears the Latin motto "Vincit Omnia Industria" (all industry wins) and an inscription reading "Borough of Bury — Duckworth 1883 Mayor" within a raised circular strap belt. The terminal posts of the parapet wall rise from plinths with bullnose mouldings and moulded cornices, supporting rectangular capstones.

Late 1960s to 1970s Modernisation

The most recent phase comprises a three-lane bridge deck approximately 76 metres long and 14.5 metres wide, formed of flat reinforced concrete beams that splay slightly to the north-west. The beams spring from slab-sided reinforced concrete abutments and rest on a central transverse skewed concrete beam supported by pillars rising from the river floor. The pavement on the northern side is protected by plain steel balustrade fencing. While this phase is of lesser architectural interest than its predecessors, it demonstrates the bridge's continuous development and adaptation over time.