Arlington Way Bridge Over The Chesterfield Canal - Retford, UK
Posted by: dtrebilc
N 53° 19.187 W 000° 56.333
30U E 637289 N 5909825
This brick single arch bridge carries Arlington Way (A638) over the Chesterfield canal and is bridge number 56.
Waymark Code: WM1113J
Location: East Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/27/2019
Views: 1
"The canal was built to link Chesterfield, Worksop and Retford to the Trent and so gain access to more trade. Local Anston Stone was transported by the canal to the river Trent for the building of the new Houses of Parliament. During the 19th century the canal was a commercial success due to local coal. However, mining caused subsidence in the Norwood Tunnel, severing the top end of the canal.
The Chesterfield Canal runs from the river Trent at West Stockwith to Chesterfield. The Canal is 45.5 miles (73.3 km) long and has 65 locks, but only the section from West Stockwith the eastern end of Norwood Tunnel is currently navigable. This navigable section is 31.6 miles (50.9 km) long and has 46 locks.
At the isolated western end of the canal, five miles and five locks have been restored. The new Staveley Town Basin opened in 2012. There are slipways at Tapton Lock in Chesterfield and Staveley Town Basin. There is also a craning pad at the basin. This leaves nine miles to be restored. There are detailed plans for the entire stretch, prepared by the Chesterfield Canal Partnership."
link
The bridge
The bridge is close to the centre of Retford and Arlington Way a major road for the town.
The road has been widened to cater with modern traffic levels and the bridge has also been widened in to match this. Because of this the bridge buttress is now made of concrete, but the parapet is still brick. In addition if you walk under the bridge the original brick arch can still be seen.