Victoria Swing Bridge

Victoria Swing Bridge
Coordinates 55°58′43″N 3°10′12″W / 55.9787251°N 3.1699057°W / 55.9787251; -3.1699057Coordinates: 55°58′43″N 3°10′12″W / 55.9787251°N 3.1699057°W / 55.9787251; -3.1699057
Crosses Water of Leith
Characteristics
Material Wrought iron
Total length 212 feet (65 m)
Width 24 feet (7.3 m)
Longest span 120 feet (37 m)
History
Engineering design by Rendel and Robertson
Construction begin 1871
Construction end 1874
Construction cost GB£30,000

The Victoria Swing Bridge is a swing bridge in Leith, Edinburgh.

History

The dock upstream from the bridge was begun in 1833, but financial troubles meant it was only finished between 1869 and 1875, and is nearly rectangular with a quayage of 3,860 feet (1,180 m) and an area of 10.7 acres (4.3 ha).[1] The bridge was built between 1871 and 1874 to service the new docks.[2] It was engineered by Rendel and Robertson, with J. H. Bostock as resident engineer.[2] McDonald & Grant were contractors for the foundations, and the bridge was built by the Skerne Iron Works.[2] The works cost around GB£30,000.[2]

Until the opening of the Kincardine Bridge in 1937, it is thought to have been the longest swing bridge in Britain.[2]

After restoration, it was reopened on 22 November 2000 by Eric Milligan, Lord Provost of Edinburgh.[3]

Design

The footpath on the north side of the bridge

It was 212 feet (65 m) long in total, with a clear span of 120 feet (37 m), and a roadway width of 24 feet (7.3 m).[2] The bridge was constructed from wrought iron, and weighed 620 tonnes (610 long tons; 680 short tons), including 60 tonnes (59 long tons; 66 short tons) of timber decking and 240 tonnes (240 long tons; 260 short tons) of kentledge counterweight.[2] The bridge carried two tracks of a dock railway and a road, and there are footpaths on either side outside the truss structure.[2][4] The tracks and roadway have now been removed, and the bridge has a wooden deck.[4]

The bridge was powered hydraulically by a power station just to the north.[5][6] It swung to the north, and the space afforded for the counterbalance can still be seen.[6]

It has been succeeded by a new bridge further downstream, which carries a roadway known as Ocean Drive.[7][6]

References

  1. ↑ "Victoria Dock with Pedestrian and Vehicular Swing Bridges (Ref:24971)". historic-scotland.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Edinburgh, Leith Docks, Victoria Swing Bridge". rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  3. ↑ Victoria Bridge (Plaque on bridge).
  4. 1 2 "Victoria Swing Bridge". leithlocalhistorysociety.org.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Edinburgh, Leith Docks, Alexandra Dry Dock, Hydraulic Power Station". rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 Google (23 September 2014). "Victoria Swing Bridge" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "Edinburgh, Leith Docks, Victoria Bridge". rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
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