Summit Bridge

Summit Bridge is a road bridge built over the cutting of the summit of the Birmingham Canal, Old Main Line, between 1788 and 1789 by the engineer John Smeaton. This construction was part of an improvement project that lowered the summit level from 491 feet to 472 feet.

The bridge is made of red brick, featuring brick copings and a sandstone keystone. It has a massive single span with a segmental arch, and the towpath runs beneath the southwestern side. The exterior includes protruding brick pilasters, a double string course, and curving flanking abutments with short protruding end piers. On the northwestern face, there is a cast iron date plaque that reads 'MDCCXC'.

Smeaton's Summit Bridge is an unaltered example of engineering from the height of the industrial revolution. Its large proportions showcase technical innovation and provide an elegant solution for a road crossing at a challenging site. The scale of this project foreshadows later railway engineering efforts and highlights the technical excellence of John Smeaton. Additionally, as part of the improvement scheme for the Birmingham mainline canal, the bridge reflects the significant investment in and importance of canal navigations during the industrial development of Georgian England.