Hanging Bridge, Medieval road bridge near Manchester Cathedral, England
The Hanging Bridge is a medieval stone structure in Manchester built from red sandstone with two large four-centered arches spanning a former waterway. It once crossed the rivers Irk and Irwell and connected two parts of the town.
The bridge was built in 1421 to replace an older crossing that had served the same location. It lay hidden beneath city buildings for centuries until workers accidentally uncovered it during demolition work in the 1880s.
The bridge once connected two parts of the medieval town, allowing daily passage across a waterway between neighborhoods. Its surviving arches still show the role it played in linking the community.
The structure lies mostly hidden beneath modern buildings and cannot be fully viewed. The best views of the exposed arches are found in the basement area of Manchester Cathedral's Visitor Centre.
Excavations at the site uncovered objects from the 13th to 15th centuries, including leather goods and pottery buried beneath the bridge structure. These finds reveal the everyday life and craftsmanship of the time when the bridge was actively used.
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