Crich Junction Bridge (SPC8/46)

Crich Junction Bridge is a single-span skew underbridge over the River Amber, built around 1837 to 1840, designed by Frederick Swanwick, who was an Assistant Engineer for the North Midland Railway under George and Robert Stephenson. The bridge was widened on both sides between 1863 and 1880.

The bridge is constructed from coursed and squared quarry-faced Derbyshire Gritstone, featuring ashlar dressings and red brick soffits. It consists of one skew span that carries the Midland Main Line over the river. From north to south, it includes wing walls from 1863 to 1880, which were originally for a flat metal span, followed by the segmental masonry arch built around 1837 to 1840, and then the segmental masonry arch from 1863 to 1880.

The wing walls from 1863 to 1880 have ashlar padstones that were formerly used for the flat metal span. Set back between these walls is the north face of the 1837 to 1840 arch, which has heightened abutments and parapets made of coursed stone. The parapet is capped with a steel railing set in thin concrete slabs.

The 1837 to 1840 arch features rusticated voussoirs that return as quoins to the soffit, along with abutment quoins and an impost band. Its south face connects with the straight join of the 1863 to 1880 arch. The impost band continues through the 1863 to 1880 arch and curves around the south face of the bridge, terminating at the projecting piers that flank the arch. The south face also has rusticated voussoirs, which are cut short at the crown by a cornice that extends across the projecting piers. Above this, there is a low ashlar parapet topped with a steel railing.

It is noted that the steel railings are not considered to have special architectural or historic interest.