melodysparks | The Old Original Trent Bridge

The Old Trent Bridge by Melodysparks (Chris Preedy)

The Old Trent Bridge, a photo by Melodysparks (Chris Preedy) on Flickr.

Now a traffic island

Medieval bridge

The first bridge is thought to have been constructed on the site in 920. A second bridge which was started in 1156 had more than 20 stone arches and a chapel dedicated to St. James at one end. It was maintained by a religious organisation. On 21 February 1551 the responsibility for repair passed to Nottingham Corporation, through a Royal Charter which created the Bridge Estate.

It was known as Hethbeth bridge, Heath-beth bridge, or Heck-beck bridge.

This bridge was damaged by floods several times, and the northern half was washed away in 1683. The repaired bridge had fifteen arches across the river and flood areas, giving openings covering 347 ft in a total length of 538 ft. Although it was repaired, the foundations had become unsafe and a project to replace it was started in the 1860s.

A couple of arches from the old bridge are still preserved on the south bank of the river near the crossing.