Railway Bridge

The railway bridge on Foregate Street in Worcester was built around 1860, with later modifications made between 1904 and 1907 when the original trussed main girders were replaced. Additional alterations occurred around the 1960s at the west abutment. It was constructed for the West Midland Railway Company, with changes made for the Great Western Railway Company.

The bridge features ashlar stonework with brick retaining walls, and it is supported by steel and wrought-iron girders. It has a single-span design with a cambered arch, and the spandrels display raised and fielded panels interrupted by armorial shields. The cast-iron balustrade includes panels at the ends topped with segmental pediments and a central pierced and arched section. Wide pilasters are present on the front and rear at the east side, with the south-west pilaster visible between a later wall, and there are continuous dentil cornices.

Historically, the Worcester and Hereford Railway became part of the West Midland Railway in 1860 and was absorbed by the Great Western Railway in 1863. The original bridge was likely made from cast and wrought iron. The side panels of the current bridge are believed to be cast iron, produced by local founders Hardy and Padmore, although they likely do not bear any structural load, which is supported by the steel and wrought-iron components. The City Council holds a drawing of the new bridge, dated 1907 and marked as from the Engineers' Office in Paddington.