2019

SP0189 : Galton Bridge, Smethwick

taken 6 years ago, near to Smethwick, Sandwell, England

Galton Bridge, Smethwick
Galton Bridge, Smethwick
Galton Bridge

This formed part of Thomas Telford's improvement of the Birmingham Canal and was built in 1829. The improvement incorporated the 3.6 mile long Smethwick Cutting, at the time one of the largest earthworks to have been carried out. The bridge carried the Smethwick – Sandwell road over the deepest part of the cutting.

The main element of the bridge is a cast iron arch of six ribs, spanning 45.7 metres (150 feet) with a rise of 4.6 metres (15 feet) across the Smethwick Cutting of the new cut of the canal, at a clear height of some 20m above the water. As with many of the other bridges of the project, the ironwork was cast at Horseley Iron Works in Tipton.

The diagonal bracing of the ribs followed the pattern that Telford had used for his bridges over the Severn at Mythe and Holt Fleet. Unlike these two, which still carry modern traffic, Galton Bridge has not been subject to modern strengthening and is essentially original. A weight limit of 2 tons had been imposed prior to 1975, when continued increases in traffic resulted in closure to vehicles, continuing to serve as a pedestrian and cycle link (National Route 5). It was listed Grade II in 1972, and upgraded to Grade I in 1989.
The bridge is named after Samuel Galton, a member of the Lunar Society and a director of the Birmingham Canal Company.

The Listing includes the later arch over the London and North Western Railway's Birmingham to Wolverhampton railway, opened in 1852. This section repeats the parapet design of the original.

Birmingham Canal (BCN Main Line)

The Birmingham Canal was built from 1768 to 1772 by James Brindley from the then edge of Birmingham, at Paradise Wharf (also known as Old Wharf) near to Gas Street Basin to meet the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at Aldersley, near Wolverhampton. The canal was upgraded and straightened by Thomas Telford between 1824-7.
The canal forms part of the Birmingham Canals Navigation, a network of canals in and around the city.
Wikipedia: LinkExternal link


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Alan Murray-Rust and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts Roads, Road transport Canals Bridge: Road Over Canal Canal: Birmingham Canal Navigations Period: Early 19th Century Date: 1828 Building Material: Cast Iron Name: Thomas Telford other tags: Grade I Listed Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
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SP0189, 210 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Alan Murray-Rust   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Thursday, 5 September, 2019   (more nearby)
Submitted
Thursday, 12 September, 2019
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 0150 8934 [10m precision]
WGS84: 52:30.1175N 1:58.7599W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 0153 8932
View Direction
Northwest (about 315 degrees)
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Image Type (about): close look 
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