Pottery Bridge

Pottery Bridge is a roving bridge, now serving as a public road bridge over the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. It was built in 1816 for the Leeds-Liverpool Canal Company, with engineering by John Rennie. The bridge was widened in two stages during the later 19th century. The original structure is made of coursed sandstone blocks, while the later additions are of cast iron. It features a semi-elliptical arch with rusticated voussoirs; the north side has a fluted keystone flanked by sunk panels that display raised lettering stating "OPENED 18" "16 OCT 22." Both sides of the bridge are now overhung by cast-iron additions, which partly obscure the original lettering. A towpath runs through on the east side, with a restored ramp leading up the north face to a cobbled crossover deck supported by the cast-iron extension. Although much of the original bridge is obscured by the later additions, it appears to be largely intact. The entire structure is a prominent feature of the area now known as Wigan Pier Heritage Centre, and it groups with Trencherfield Mill to the south.