Bridge 137 Over Trent & Mersey Canal - Church Lawton, UK - Arch Bridges on Waymarking.com

The Trent and Mersey Canal
The Trent and Mersey Canal was the UK's first long distance canal and as the name suggests was built to give a connection to the Rivers Trent and Mersey. (Access to the Mersey was actually via the Bridgewater Canal with some locks at Runcorn that no longer exist).

It opened in 1777 and is 93.5 miles (150.5 km) long and stretches from its connection with the Bridgewater Canal at Preston Brook to its connection with the River Trent at Derwent Mouth.

The Bridge
The bridge stands in front of lock 60. The lock was originally a single chamber lock and the bridge a single arch bridge. However when the number of boats using the canal increased, a second chamber was added to the lock and a second arch to extend the bridge.

It was built as an accommodation bridge for a farm, but also carries the towpath from the southern bank of the canal to the northern bank.

The bridge is a Historic England Grade II Listed Building.
"Canal accommodation bridge. East span circa early C19 with west span added/bridge remodelled circa early 1830's when Locks No. 49 were duplicated, probably by Thomas Telford. Red brick and brindled brick with stone coping and dressings. Towpath to west span. Integral with adjoining pair of locks. Both spans have elliptical arches. Swept wings/roving arms with trailing edges to south elevation and west side of north elevation. Central pier to south side. East span has stone/stone slab quoins to arch, and west span has stone quoins/voussoirs. Stone string course and plaque at crown to both arches on both sides. Minor repairs. The Trent and Mersey Canal was built between 1766 and 1777 by James Brindley and Hugh Henshall with subsequent alterations. Charles Hadfield, The Canals of the West Midlands (1966) Jean Lindsay, The Trent and Mersey Canal (1979)" link

What type of traffic does this bridge support?: Farm vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists What kind of gap does this bridge cross?: Trent & Mersey Canal Is the bridge still in service for its original purpose?: Yes Name of road or trail the bridge services: Unnamed track Location: Church Lawton, Cheshire Length of bridge: Not listed Height of bridge: Not listed Date constructed: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   11/14/2017 Poole/Freeman visited it