Eckington Bridge Explained

Bridge Name:Eckington Bridge
Carries:B4080
Crosses:River Avon
Locale:Eckington, Worcestershire, England
Spans:5
Begin:c. 1720
Heritage:Grade II* listed building
Coordinates:52.0793°N -2.1149°W

Eckington Bridge is a stone bridge over the River Avon in Eckington in the English county of Worcestershire. It is a Grade II* listed building and has been scheduled as an ancient monument.[1]

The first bridge at the site was built in 1440, replacing an earlier ferry, but this fell into disrepair and was replaced by the current stone bridge in the 1720s.[2] [3] It consists of six arches built of red sandstone with the piers being protected by cutwaters.[4]

On the northern side of the bridge, slightly downstream, is a World War II pillbox.

During 2011 and 2012 repairs were undertaken by Worcestershire County Council at a cost of £240,000.[5]

Next to the bridge is Eckington Wharf, which is no longer used commercially but provides public moorings, a canoe launching slipway and picnic area.[6] [7]

The bridge is the subject of a poem by Arthur Quiller-Couch,[8] and a picture from 1929 by Walter J. Phillips.[9]

In 2022 a collision between two cars on the bridge caused damage and a car entered the river.[10] The driver of that car died.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eckington Bridge. historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. 10 August 2014.
  2. Web site: Eckington. Bredon Hill View. 10 August 2014.
  3. Web site: Parishes: Eckington . William Page, J.W.Willis-Bund (editors) . Institute of Historical Research . 1924 . A History of the County of Worcester: volume 4 . 10 August 2014 .
  4. Web site: Eckington Bridge. Pastscape. English Heritage. 10 August 2014.
  5. Web site: Eckington Bridge. https://archive.today/20140812024449/http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cms/transport-and-highways/transport-schemes/eckington-bridge-refurbishment.aspx. dead. 12 August 2014. Worcestershire County Council. 10 August 2014.
  6. Web site: Eckington Wharf. CanalPlan. 10 August 2014.
  7. Web site: Eckington Wharf Picnic Place. Worcestershire County Council. 10 August 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121230225646/http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cms/countryside/explore-the-countryside/countryside-sites-list/eckington-wharf-picnic-place.aspx. 30 December 2012. dmy-all.
  8. Web site: Quiller-Couch. A.T.. Upon Eckington Bridge, River Avon. Poetry Archive. 10 August 2014.
  9. Web site: Phillips. Walter J.. Eckington Bridge. Sharecom. 10 August 2014.
  10. News: Bagdi . Annabel . Car crashes through bridge and plunges into River Avon during 'serious' two-vehicle smash . 26 August 2022 . Birmingham Live . 26 August 2022.
  11. News: Man dies after car submerged in Worcestershire bridge crash . BBC News . 26 August 2022.

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