Turnover Bridge Over The Trent And Mersey Canal - Meaford, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 52° 55.482 W 002° 09.751
30U E 556300 N 5864222
This single span brick bridge carries the canal towpath over the Trent & Mersey Canal and is bridge 100.
Waymark Code: WM10B0K
Location: West Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/04/2019
Views: 5
"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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At this point the towpath switches from one side of the canal to the other and the bridge carries the towpath over the canal. At the time the canal was built, canal boats were pulled by horses. A turnover bridge was designed to allow horses to go over the bridge without unhitching the rope from the boat.
The bridge is a Historic England Grade II Listed Building.
"Circa 1818. Over the Trent and Mersey Canal. Red brick with stone saddle-back copings to parapets. Of single span with elliptical arch. A 'roving' bridge with swept parapets on south side and ramps down to tow-paths."
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