Turnbridge Lift Bridge

The Turnbridge Lift Bridge is a vertical-lift bridge spanning the Huddersfield Broad Canal in Kirklees, where a central deck rises straight up to allow boats to pass underneath. The structure connects both sides of the waterway while maintaining access for water traffic.

The bridge was built in 1865, replacing an earlier swing bridge at the location. It was modernized in 2002 with electric mechanisms that improved how it operates today.

The bridge connects two sides of town while keeping the canal open for boats to move through, serving as a key crossing point in daily life. Visitors walking across notice how it integrates into the local road network without disrupting water traffic below.

You can reach it easily from Quay Street near the town center, and both pedestrians and vehicles can cross at any time. The lifting operations happen as needed when boats require passage through the canal.

The lifting mechanism uses wheels, chains, and counterweights that keep the roadway level and parallel during raising operations. This Victorian engineering design remains essentially unchanged, even after electric motors were added to power it.

Location: Kirklees

Official opening: 1865

GPS coordinates: 53.64770,-1.77530

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:00