Great North Road Bridge - 1797 And 1804 - Ferrybridge, UK - Bridge Date Stones and Plaques on Waymarking.com

In 1198, a bridge was built over the river. The first recorded crossings of the river at Ferrybridge date from the bridge's construction. The bridge was rebuilt at the end of the 14th century with seven pillars and a chantry chapel at one end. Until 1810, a toll was payable to cross the bridge. link

By the early 17th century the main route from London to York was via Ferrybridge along the Great North Road. Ferrybridge became a major coaching centre where the routes to York and further north to Edinburgh would divert. Several coaching houses in Ferrybridge served the passengers, coachmen and their horses the most important of which was The Angel. This was a large building with lots of stabling. The bridge at Ferrybridge was found to be too narrow for the increasing amount of traffic going across it and for the small barges passing beneath it along the Aire and Calder Navigation and so a new bridge was authorised and construction began in 1797. Designed by the architect John Carr and built by local builder Bernard Hartley it was eventually opened to traffic in June 1804. link

The bridge is an English Heritage Grade I Listed building. link The listing tells us about the two date plaques on the bridge. The inscription on the north parapet has the date that work started on the bridge.

JOHN CARR, ESQUIRE,
OF YORK, ARCHITECT.
1797.
FERRYBRIDGE | BROTHERTON.

The mention of 'FERRYBRIDGE | BROTHERTON' relates to the fact that the River Aire acts as the border between the two towns.

The south parapet has a second inscription, showing the bridge builder's name and date of its completion.

BERNARD HARTLEY.
OF PONTEFRACT, BUILDER.
1804.

This inscription has been vandalised with white paint.

Date built or dedicated as indicated on the date stone or plaque.: 1797 - 1804 Date stone, plaque location.: In the middle of the bridge over the canal on the north and south parapet. Road, body of water, land feature, etc. that the bridge spans.: The River Aire Website (if available): [Web Link] Parking (safe parking location): N 53° 42.944 W 001° 16.238

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Date Logged Log   12/04/2014 desertfoxuk visited it