Image ID: 17673

Grantham Canal, Bridgford Lifting Bridge

Radcliffe Road
West Bridgford
England

The Grantham Canal, in common with many others, has a chequered history. The canal was conceived and constructed in the 'canal mania' days of the 1790s. It continued to make a profit until the opening of the Grantham to Nottingham railway in 1850 signalled the beginning of a steady decline in the commercial use of the canal. It was closed to all traffic in 1929 and was 'abandoned' under the London and North Eastern Railway (General Powers) Act of 1936. Agreements pertaining to water extraction rights for agricultural purposes ensured that most of the canal was retained in water, although there is a dry section in the vicinity of Cropwell Bishop. In the 1950's all but 23 of the 69 bridges over the canal were flattened to make way for road improvements. This bridge is the Bridgford Lift bridge, a Bascule bridge which has, sadly, been replaced with concrete culverts. Lifting Bridges rely on the principle of levers and equilibrium. A large counterweight balances the weight of the bridge deck to enable the bridge to pivot upwards with a minimum of effort.

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Keywordsgranthamcanalliftingbridgeironbalancepivotroadhousestowpathtransportwaterways

West Bridgford Library