Workhouse Bridge Over Trent And Mersey Canal - Stone, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 52° 54.083 W 002° 08.933
30U E 557247 N 5861640
This single span brick bridge carries a minor track over the Trent & Mersey Canal and is bridge 94.
Waymark Code: WM10BRG
Location: West Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/09/2019
Views: 6
"As its name implies, the Trent and Mersey canal (T & M) was built to link the River Trent at Derwent Mouth (in Derbyshire) to the River Mersey. The second connection is made via the Bridgewater Canal, which it joins at Preston Brook in Cheshire. Note that although mileposts measure the distance to Preston Brook and Shardlow, Derwent Mouth is a mile or so beyond Shardlow.
The plan of a canal connection from the Mersey to the Trent ("The Grand Trunk") came from canal engineer James Brindley. It was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1766 and the first sod was cut by Josiah Wedgwood in July that year at Brownhills, Burslem. In 1777, the canal was completed, including more than 70 locks and five tunnels, with the company headquarters in Stone."
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The bridge is on the outskirts of the town of Stone and used to carry one of the town's roads. It has now been closed to road traffic and is only used by pedestrians and cyclists.
It stands in front of the bottom gates of lock 28.
A nearby information board has information that says that the road over the bridge once lead from the town to the workhous. The former workhouse, until recently was in use as the Trent Hospital and has now been developed into apartments.
The bridge is a Historic England Grade II Listed Building.
"Canal bridge. 1771-2. By James Brindley, engineer. Brick with some plaster. Elliptical arch with plastering, brick band over and brick-coped parapet. Included for group value. (Lindsay J: The Trent and Mersey Canal: 1979-: 41-44)."
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