Two bridges spanning the River Spodden, Mellor Street, Rochdale

Two road bridges. 1904-5 by Samuel Sydney Platt, Borough Engineer of Rochdale, in association with L.G Mouchel and Partners, with the work undertaken by Yorkshire Hennebique Contracting Co. Ltd. of Leeds. Ferro-concrete with Stanicliffe sandstone parapets from quarries near Rowsley, Derbyshire.

DESCRIPTION: the two shallow-arched skew bridges are built to carry Mellor Street over a bend in the River Spodden. The abutments, slab arches, and battered buttresses are constructed of reinforced concrete; at a later date the original concrete was sprayed with concrete render which has now been partially removed. The sandstone parapets have chamfered plinths and are pierced with vertical rectangular, chamfered openings, with chamfered coping stones. They are flanked by panelled rectangular piers with chamfered plinths and deeply chamfered cap stones. The right-hand pier of the east parapet of the south-east bridge has a mason's mark. The south-east bridge also has short stone walls to the outer sides of the piers with chamfered plinths and flat coping stones. The north-west bridge has similar short stone walls to the outer sides of the piers, though lacking the cap stones; the exception is the right-hand pier of the west parapet, where the stone blocks return. An iron strap protruding from the stonework suggests that there may have been a gateway or an earlier fence in the position of the modern fence.

The brick walls and metal fencing abutting the stone parapets of the bridges are later and not part of the original construction. They are not of special interest.