News-Whorlton Bridge now fully dismantled

Whorlton Bridge being dismantled.

We are restoring Whorlton Bridge to its former glory by taking down the bridge and refurbishing it piece by piece.

Components removed

With the components of the bridge now all carefully removed and placed in storage, the parts will undergo testing before being refurbished - blasted and painted - and reassembled.

We have been working closely with Historic England and the Environment Agency on this Grade II* listed structure, which is the UK's oldest road suspension bridge and renowned for its original iron chains supporting the deck.

Intricate operation

Cllr John Shuttleworth, our Cabinet member for highways, rural communities, and community safety, said: "Restoring Whorlton Bridge is an incredibly intricate operation. As a designated historic monument, it is essential that the bridge is reconstructed to its original specifications. This means we are striving to reuse as many of the original components as possible and are treating every piece with great care.

"To ensure a safe dismantling process, we used a cable crane beneath the bridge, allowing our team to move securely from one side to the other while performing necessary work. This delicate operation involved over two years of engineering design to avoid damaging the structure. To have it now fully removed is a significant step in this important project and we're pleased to move on to the next stage."

Next steps

Reconstruction of the bridge is set to begin next spring.

We are recording significant milestones throughout the project with plans to release a documentary upon its completion.