Galton Bridge, Steel road bridge in Smethwick, England.
Description
Galton Bridge is a steel road bridge crossing the Birmingham Canal in Smethwick, designed with decorative lamp posts and X-shaped bracing in the spandrels. It spans approximately 150 feet and rises about 70 feet above the waterway.
History
Thomas Telford designed this bridge in 1829 to carry traffic over a new main canal line through a deep cutting. An additional arch was added to the south stone abutment in 1852 to make room for the Stour Valley railway.
Culture
The bridge is named after Samuel Tertius Galton, an investor in the Birmingham Canal Company, with plaques marking its production at Horsley Iron Works. Visitors today can see these industrial heritage marks directly on the structure itself.
Practical
The bridge is now open to pedestrians and cyclists and connects with Smethwick Galton Bridge railway station nearby. Street parking is available in the surrounding area, and daytime visits work best for viewing the architectural details and craftsmanship.
Did you know?
The structure stands out for how it brought foot traffic and later rail transport together under one design. This combination of road and rail on a single structure represents an early solution for space constraints during industrialization.
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