Marlow Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marlow Bridge |
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Marlow Bridge, from All Saints' parish churchyard
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| Crosses | River Thames |
| Locale | Marlow |
| Maintained by | Buckinghamshire County Council |
| Heritage status | Grade I listed structure |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension |
| Height | 12 feet 8 inches (3.86 m) |
| Longest span | 235 feet (72 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | William Tierney Clark |
| Opened | 1832 |
The Marlow Bridge is a famous bridge that crosses the River Thames in England. It connects the town of Marlow, Buckinghamshire with the village of Bisham in Berkshire. This bridge is very special because it's a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most important historical buildings in the country!
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A Look Back at Marlow Bridge's History
Marlow Bridge has been around for a very long time. There has been a bridge at this spot since the time of King Edward III. That was way back in the 1300s!
Early Wooden Bridges
Around the year 1530, people said the bridge was made of wood. An even older crossing might have been there in 1309. In 1642, during a war, an army partly destroyed this wooden bridge.
Later, in 1789, a new wooden bridge was built. People helped pay for it by donating money. A group called the Thames Navigation Commission also helped. They wanted to make sure boats could pass easily underneath.
The Current Suspension Bridge
The bridge you see today is a suspension bridge. It was designed by a clever engineer named William Tierney Clark. Workers built it between 1829 and 1832. It replaced an older wooden bridge that had fallen down in 1828.
Did you know that William Clark also designed another famous bridge? The Széchenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest crosses the River Danube. It's a much bigger version of the Marlow Bridge!
Marlow Bridge Today
The Marlow Bridge was repaired in 1965 to keep it strong. Today, it has a weight limit of 3 tonnes. This means only cars and small local vehicles can use it. Larger vehicles have to use the nearby Marlow By-pass Bridge.
The Lorry Incident
On September 24, 2016, something unusual happened. A very heavy lorry from Lithuania, weighing 37 tonnes, tried to cross the bridge. This was much heavier than the bridge's limit!
Because of this, the bridge had to close for two months. Experts from Buckinghamshire County Council checked the bridge very carefully. They did many tests to make sure it was still safe.
Reopening the Bridge
Luckily, the tests showed that the bridge was not badly damaged. It reopened on Friday, November 25. Before opening, some parts that were checked got new paint. Scaffolding around the towers was removed, and wooden parts were put back.
The Marlow Bridge is an important part of history and a vital link for the local area.
