Perry Bridge

Perry Bridge is a stone arch bridge spanning the River Tame with red sandstone construction and a width of 4 meters. The structure has stone parapets and now functions as a pedestrian crossing, while modern traffic uses an adjacent 1932 Art Deco bridge nearby.

In 1711, the Staffordshire Quarter Sessions commissioned this bridge to replace an earlier wooden crossing at a site with Roman-era origins. The location had served as an important passage for centuries before the stone structure was built.

The bridge's design appears on Handsworth Grammar School's official badge, showing its role in the local community. This choice reflects how the structure has become a symbol for the school and the neighborhood.

Access is freely available and the bridge is easily reached from nearby footpaths along the River Tame. As a pedestrian-only crossing, it gives good views of the river and the adjacent modern bridge from different angles.

The bridge retains its original packhorse design from the early 1700s, built using traditional methods and local red sandstone materials. Few visitors realize the structure was designed to accommodate the heavily laden horses that once carried goods across the river.

Location: Birmingham

Inception: 1711

Length: 50 m

Width: 4 m

Made from material: stone

Address: Aldridge Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham, England

GPS coordinates: 52.52534,-1.89709

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:54