Stamp End Bridge

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 06/09/2016

SK 987 1941-1/13/465

LINCOLN, SPA ROAD, Stamp End Bridge

II

1848 for the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway. Designed by John Fowler, Chief Engineer to the company, using William Fairbairn designed box girders; partially reconstructed in 1903 for the Great Central Railway. MATERIALS: ashlar stone, wrought iron, steel and blue engineering brick. EXTERIOR: Four span bridge over roads and the river Witham, three side spans totally reconstructed using riveted steel plate girders in 1903. Main river span of 66'6" supported on rusticated ashlar piers with girders bearings behind walls of engineering brick with stone dressings. River span consists of parallel wrought iron box girders with small cross girders to carry double track. Span was strengthened in 1903 by addition of central steel plate girder from which existing cross-members were supported at mid point by steel hangers. Span thus remains with all the 1848 ironwork still in place and carrying trains. HISTORY: Stamp End Bridge is believed to be the oldest surviving wrought iron box girder railway bridge in Britain and possibly in the world. It certainly seems to be the oldest such bridge in Britain still carrying trains. The development of the box girder, necessary for the production of long wrought iron spans was done by William Fairbairn of Manchester and championed in use by John Fowler. It led to the slightly later and still extant Torksey bridge which is no longer in use; to the Robert Stephenson Menai bridge now destroyed and the Brunel designed Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash.

(Lincoln, Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. 1998: Barton B.M.J: 'Stamp End Railway Bridge', 55-56).

Listing NGR: SK9846271027