Marlow Bridge, Suspension bridge in Marlow, England
Marlow Bridge is a white-painted suspension bridge spanning the River Thames, featuring two distinctive towers that support iron chains connecting Marlow with Bisham. The structure has slender, elegant proportions and crosses the river with a clear span where the water flows freely beneath.
William Tierney Clark designed and built this bridge between 1829 and 1832 to replace a wooden structure that had collapsed downstream. The construction applied engineering principles that Clark would later develop further in his career.
The bridge serves as a familiar landmark that connects two communities separated by the river, used daily by locals and visitors on foot and by bicycle. It has become woven into the local identity as a practical crossing that people rely on for everyday movement.
The bridge has a three-tonne weight restriction and is open only to pedestrians, cyclists, and authorised vehicles, while heavier traffic uses a modern bypass bridge nearby. Walking or cycling across takes just a few minutes and offers clear views of the river.
This is the only suspension bridge of its kind spanning the non-tidal section of the River Thames, making it a rare example among English river crossings. The design principles were later adapted for bridges across other waterways, including one in Hungary.
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