Image ID: 14301

Footbridge over Chesterfield Canal

Near Girls High School
Retford
England

This bridge is properly called Inkerman bridge but nobody calls it that now, it is commonly known as the iron bridge (to differentiate it from the humpback bridge further down the footpath near Asda). The bridge has been much altered over the years - the original steps can still be seen but there is now a sloped ramp suspended over them. The first public meeting was held at Worksop's Red Lion on 24 August 1769 to organise the building of a canal. The nationally famous engineer James Brindley was asked to lead the project. He confirmed that a canal from Chesterfield to the River Trent was viable. Of all the proposed cargoes coal was considered the most important because the fledgling Canal Company aimed to undersell the rival south Yorkshire coalfields. Brindley's assistant, John Varley, was made Clerk of the Works [Resident Engineer]. Work started in October 1771 at Norwood Tunnel, the digging of which was to be a four-year task. Meanwhile the canal was built eastwards towards Worksop and Retford. In May 1775 it was agreed that although the canal was to be narrow from Chesterfield to Retford it should, nevertheless, be built larger between Retford and the Trent so that it could carry wide-beam river-boats. The entire canal was officially opened on 4 June 1777.

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Retford Library