Union Street Swing-Bridge - Western Dock Dover Kent UK
Posted by: MeerRescue
N 51° 07.176 E 001° 18.675
31U E 381809 N 5664481
Electric powered swing-bridge at Western Docks Dover Kent UK
Waymark Code: WMDVKH
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/27/2012
Views: 5
The first swing-bridge
was commissioned in 1846 by the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, none other that
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. As Lord Warden it also made him
Chairman of The Harbour Commissioners. Much improvement work was being carried
out to improve the harbour, including enlarging the tidal harbour and the building
of new quays on the inner harbour. The swing-bridge was installed to provide
access to The Pent (now Wellington Dock) from the tidal harbour. The
swing-bridge (Wellington Bridge) construction was finished on 13th November 1846
and opened that very day by the Duke himself, who rode across it in his
carriage. In 1904 as a result of widening the entrance to Wellington Dock,
a new iron bridge was built by Messrs Hunter & English at the cost of £4,738.
The present Union Street Swing
bridge dates from the 1980's and is electric powered. When opened, it allows
vessels to enter/exit Wellington Docks (Dover Marina). When closed it is
used by vehicular and pedestrian traffic to and from the Prince of Wales Pier,
and laterly the Hoverport (closed in 2005). A small roundabout at the end of The
Esplanade now allows vehicular/pedestrian access from the seafront, along Union
Street, across the swing-bridge to join the busy A20 Snargate Street that
leads to and from the Town centre and Eastern Dock.