Image ID: 18434

The River Trent frozen at Trent Bridge

Trent Bridge
West Bridgford
England

The last freeze of the Trent occurred in Jan 1895. For 10 days the river was frozen and safe for skaters, and a hockey match was held between Newark and Burton-on-Trent, near to Averham Weirs. Other photographs show people skating and walking on the ice and although they appear perfectly at ease, several fatalities due to thin ice were reported on the river. See also NCCE000620 of skaters at Newark in the same year. A bridge has existed at or around the current location since 924 during the reign of Edward the Elder when an oak superstructure was supported by stone piers - with evidence that the site also had a ferry during occupation by the Danes. In 1156, in the reign of Henry II came a stone, gothic arch style bridge, with 17 arch spans in total. This structure remained for a considerable period with reconstruction works dated at 1275 and 1374. The structure sustained considerable damage during the Cromwellian wars, with a great flood further adding to the damage. The bridge as it appears today was constructed over a three-year period between 1868 and 1871, for the price of

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Keywordsicefrozenrivertrentbridgewaterwaysleisurewinterweatherironspandrelssnow

West Bridgford Library