Stoneford Bridge Over The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal - Weeping Cross, UK
Posted by: dtrebilc
N 52° 47.733 W 002° 04.017
30U E 562912 N 5849936
This single arch brick bridge was built as an accommodation bridge for access to fields next to the canal and is bridge number 103.
Waymark Code: WM10C4A
Location: West Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/11/2019
Views: 2
"The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal is a navigable narrow canal in Staffordshire and Worcestershire in the English Midlands. It is 46 miles (74 km) long, linking the River Severn at Stourport in Worcestershire with the Trent and Mersey Canal at Haywood Junction by Great Haywood.
James Brindley was the chief engineer of the canal, which was part of his "Grand Cross" plan for waterways connecting Hull, Liverpool and Bristol.
The Act of Parliament authorising the canal was passed on 14 May 1766. This created "The Company of Proprietors of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Navigation", which was empowered to raise an initial £70,000 (equivalent to £9,561,529 in 2018), with a further £30,000 (equivalent to £4,097,798 in 2018), if needed, to fund the canal's construction.
The canal was completed in 1771 for a cost that exceeded the authorised capital, and opened to trade in 1772. It was a commercial success, with trade from the Staffordshire Potteries southwards to Gloucester and Bristol, and trade from the Black Country northwards to the Potteries via the junction with the Birmingham Canal at Aldersley.
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These days the bridge carries an unnamed track farm track over the canal to give access to farm fields. It also carries a public footpath. To the south of the bridge the track passes under a railway line.
The east side of the bridge has a pipe attached.