Description

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 06/09/2016

SK 987
1941-1/13/465

LINCOLN,
SPA ROAD,
Stamp End Bridge

II

1848 for the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway.
Designed by John Fowler, Chief Engineer to the company, using
William Fairbairn designed box girders; partially
reconstructed in 1903 for the Great Central Railway.
MATERIALS: ashlar stone, wrought iron, steel and blue
engineering brick.
EXTERIOR: Four span bridge over roads and the river Witham,
three side spans totally reconstructed using riveted steel
plate girders in 1903. Main river span of 66'6" supported on
rusticated ashlar piers with girders bearings behind walls of
engineering brick with stone dressings. River span consists of
parallel wrought iron box girders with small cross girders to
carry double track. Span was strengthened in 1903 by addition
of central steel plate girder from which existing
cross-members were supported at mid point by steel hangers.
Span thus remains with all the 1848 ironwork still in place
and carrying trains.
HISTORY: Stamp End Bridge is believed to be the oldest
surviving wrought iron box girder railway bridge in Britain
and possibly in the world. It certainly seems to be the oldest
such bridge in Britain still carrying trains. The development
of the box girder, necessary for the production of long
wrought iron spans was done by William Fairbairn of Manchester
and championed in use by John Fowler. It led to the slightly
later and still extant Torksey bridge which is no longer in
use; to the Robert Stephenson Menai bridge now destroyed and
the Brunel designed Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash.

(Lincoln, Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. 1998: Barton
B.M.J: 'Stamp End Railway Bridge', 55-56).

Listing NGR: SK9846271027

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26668233

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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