Trent Bridge (bridge)

Trent Bridge
View of Trent Bridge from the bank of the River Trent, West Bridgford
Coordinates	52°56′17″N 1°08′10″W / 52.938°N 1.136°W / 52.938; -1.136Coordinates: 52°56′17″N 1°08′10″W / 52.938°N 1.136°W / 52.938; -1.136
Carries	Road traffic (single carriageway)
Crosses	River Trent
Locale	Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
Heritage status	Grade II listed
Characteristics
Material	Iron and stone
Width	40 feet (12 m)
Longest span	100 feet (30 m)
History
Designer	Marriott Ogle Tarbotton
Constructed by	Andrew Handyside and Company
Construction begin	1868
Construction end	1871
Trent Bridge Location in Nottinghamshire

Trent Bridge is an iron and stone road bridge across the River Trent in Nottingham, England. It is the principal river crossing for entrance to the city from the south, although the upstream Clifton Bridge is both larger and busier.

The first bridge is thought to have been constructed on the site in 920. A second bridge which was started in 1156 had more than 20 stone arches and a chapel dedicated to St. James at one end. It was maintained by a religious organisation. On 21 February 1551 the responsibility for repair passed to Nottingham Corporation, through a Royal Charter which created the Bridge Estate.

It was known as Hethbeth bridge, Heath-beth bridge, or Heck-beck bridge.

This bridge was damaged by floods several times, and the northern half was washed away in 1683. The repaired bridge had fifteen arches across the river and flood areas, giving openings covering 347 ft in a total length of 538 ft. Although it was repaired, the foundations had become unsafe and a project to replace it was started in the 1860s.

The bridge was designed by Marriott Ogle Tarbotton. Construction started in 1868 and was completed in 1871 by Derbyshire iron maker, Andrew Handyside. The general contractor was Benton and Woodiwiss of Derby. It was completed for a cost of £30,000 (equivalent to £2,519,172 as of 2015). There were three main cast iron arch spans each 100 feet (30 m) braced by wrought iron girders. The width between the parapets was 40 feet (12 m). It is a Grade II listed building.

The new Trent Bridge formed part of a series of works along the banks of the river to improve flood defences by the construction of stepped, stone embankments.

Between 1924 and 1926 the bridge was widened to 80 ft by the Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company.

The Bridge Estate was created by a Royal Charter of King Edward VI on 21 February 1551 with Nottingham Corporation as Trustee. The objective was to provide funds to maintain and repair the Bridge.

In 1882 the funds exceed the requirement of the objective, and three new objectives were agreed:

In 1945 the Bridge Estate was registered as Charity 220716 with the Charity Commissioners.