Severn Railway Bridge

The Severn Railway Bridge was a rail crossing over the River Severn between Lydney and Sharpness, made up of twenty-two spans and reaching a total length of 4,162 feet (1,268 meters). Its design relied on narrow iron piers that carried the weight of the track and allowed trains to cross the wide river.

The bridge opened in 1879 to carry coal from the Forest of Dean to the docks at Sharpness and to shorten the journey between Bristol and Cardiff. A collision with a tanker in 1960 damaged the structure so badly that it closed and was later taken down.

The opening ceremony gathered 400 people who traveled in special carriages, marking a significant advancement in regional transportation infrastructure.

The bridge no longer stands, but its former route can be traced from the riverbank at Lydney and Sharpness, where remnants of the piers remain visible in the riverbed at low tide. Information panels on site help visitors understand the location and function of the original structure.

After the structure was taken down, sections of the ironwork were shipped to Chile and reused to build a road viaduct. This second life shows how building materials from the 19th century continued to serve in a completely different region and purpose.