Powick New Bridge

Powick New Bridge

A public road bridge over the River Teme, completed in 1837 to a design by William Capper of Birmingham. The stonework was contracted to Mr Faville of Harrogate and the ironwork to Mr Yates of Birmingham.

The bridge features red sandstone abutments of coursed ashlar. The stonework is organised in three main sections—plinth, main wall, and parapet—separated by moulded string courses that incorporate a pendant motif moulded into the ashlar beneath each course. The stonework terminates at each end in eight octagonal piers with engaged columns to each vertical arris.

The abutments are pierced to the right and left of the main span to provide through-passage for people and livestock and to relieve flood water. The central span comprises seven similar parallel cast-iron castings, each composed of a horizontal element carrying the roadway with a supporting arched element below. The spandrels are infilled with lattice-work, and the centre of each external arch member carries a shield bearing the City Coat of Arms. Above the main span is a parapet of vertical railings of square cross-section, with each pair linked at the top to form ogee arches. At the centre span stands an octagonal column with castellated cap, the railing motif incorporated into each face of the column casting, which also carries the date 1837. The side openings in the abutments are supported by similar but smaller castings than those in the main span, employing a four-centre arch design rather than the single or two-centre arch used centrally.

The bridge has a main span of 70 feet and is 32 feet wide. Originally the eight turrets had gothic domes, which were removed after a lorry knocked one off in 1950. The total cost of construction was £6,020.