Jump to content

Shiplake Railway Bridge: Difference between revisions

Add links
Coordinates: 51°30′07″N 0°52′41″W / 51.50194°N 0.87806°W / 51.50194; -0.87806
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Regatta was missed out as this Branch Line is called the Henley Regatta Branch Line and the Official Name for the Bridge is called the Hen Viaduct as it has an official sign stating that on Mill Lane Shiplake Side
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(15 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox_Bridge
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox Bridge
|bridge_name=Shiplake Railway Bridge
|bridge_name=Shiplake Railway Bridge
|image=ShiplakeRlyBr01.JPG
|image=ShiplakeRlyBr01.JPG
|caption=Shiplake Railway Bridge
|caption=Hen Viaduct
|official_name=
|official_name=
|carries= [[Henley Branch Line]]
|carries= [[Henley Regatta Branch Line]]
|crosses=[[River Thames]]
|crosses=[[River Thames]]
|locale= [[Shiplake]], [[Oxfordshire]]
|locale= [[Shiplake]], [[Oxfordshire]]
|maint=
|maint= [[Network Rail]]
|id=
|id=
|designer =
|designer=
|design= Girder
|design= Girder
|material = Iron
|material= Iron
|spans =
|spans=
|pierswater =
|pierswater=
|mainspan=
|mainspan=
|length=
|length=
|width=
|width=
|height={{convert|17|ft|10|in|m}}<ref>River Thames Alliance. [http://www.visitthames.co.uk/text.asp?PageId=320 Bridge heights on the River Thames.]</ref>
|height={{convert|17|ft|10|in|m}}<ref>River Thames Alliance. [http://www.visitthames.co.uk/text.asp?PageId=320 Bridge heights on the River Thames.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124114502/http://www.visitthames.co.uk/text.asp?PageId=320 |date=24 January 2008 }}</ref>
|clearance=
|clearance=
|below=
|below=
|traffic=
|traffic=
|open=[[1897]]
|open= 1897
|closed=
|closed=
|toll=
|toll=
Line 34: Line 36:
'''Shiplake Railway Bridge''' carries the [[Henley Branch Line]] to [[Henley-on-Thames]], [[England]] across the [[River Thames]], connecting [[Shiplake]] in [[Oxfordshire]] with [[Wargrave]] in [[Berkshire]]. It crosses the river just downstream of [[Shiplake Lock]] on the reach above [[Marsh Lock]].
'''Shiplake Railway Bridge''' carries the [[Henley Branch Line]] to [[Henley-on-Thames]], [[England]] across the [[River Thames]], connecting [[Shiplake]] in [[Oxfordshire]] with [[Wargrave]] in [[Berkshire]]. It crosses the river just downstream of [[Shiplake Lock]] on the reach above [[Marsh Lock]].


==History and construction==
The current bridge was built in [[1897]]. It consists of wrought-iron plate girders supported by cast-iron cylinders filled with concrete (it replaced an earlier timber bridge built in 1857). There were originally two tracks, but the whole line is now single track only.
The current bridge was built in 1897. It consists of wrought-iron plate girders supported by cast-iron cylinders filled with concrete. It replaces an earlier timber bridge built in 1857. There were originally two tracks, but the whole line is now single track only; the cylinders which supported the second track still stand today.


==The 'Millennium Bridge' that never was==
In the late 1990s it was the focus of controversy spanning several years after local politicians sought funding from the [[Millennium Commission]] to transform it into the 'Millennium Bridge'. The intention was to create a major local tourist attraction by using the supports for the redundant track as the basis for a secondary bridge which was to link to walkers' leisure routes and to the National Cycle Network.
In the late 1990s the bridge was the focus of controversy spanning several years after local politicians sought funding from the [[Millennium Commission]] to transform it into the 'Millennium Bridge'. The intention was to create a major local tourist attraction by using the supports for the redundant track as the basis for a secondary bridge which would connect walkers' leisure routes and link to a new section of the National Cycle Network.


The proposals split the opinions of the residents of the two villages the bridge was to link. Many in Wargrave saw the advantages of an easy crossing to Shiplake, whilst there were many in Shiplake who were concerned the riverbank was going to be over-run with visitors' cars. Residents in Shiplake formed the Shiplake Bridge Concern Group which for several years ran a campaign to get the plans modified. When the plans were finally put before the South Oxfordshire District Council an all time record number of objections was received.
The proposals split the opinions of the residents of the two villages the bridge was to join. Many in Wargrave saw the advantages of an easy crossing to Shiplake, whilst there were many in Shiplake who were concerned the riverbank was going to be overrun with visitors' cars. Residents in Shiplake formed the Shiplake Bridge Concern Group which for several years ran a campaign to get the plans modified.<ref>[http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/ccm/planning/ApplicationDetails.jsp?REF=P95/S0675/RM Initial plans]</ref> When the plans, which had only been changed in minor ways, were finally put before the South Oxfordshire District Council an all-time record number of objections was received.<ref>[http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/ccm/planning/ApplicationDetails.jsp?REF=P96/S0268 Revised plans]</ref>


Although planning permission for the 'Millennium Bridge' was ultimately granted, the delays created by those campaigning against it resulted in the project being abandoned on cost grounds: it had been costed in the mid-90s when the building industry was in recession, but by the time the go-ahead was given the economy was booming again and the projected costs had doubled.
Although planning permission for the 'Millennium Bridge' was ultimately granted after several re-submissions, the delays created by those campaigning against it resulted in the project being abandoned on cost grounds: it had been costed in the mid-90s when the building industry was in recession, but by the time the go-ahead was given the economy was booming again and the projected costs had doubled.


==See also==
==See also==
Line 51: Line 55:
<!--
<!--
blank line to separate text from navibox.--><BR>
blank line to separate text from navibox.--><BR>
{{Start box}}
{{S-start}}
{{River bridge start|River=[[River Thames]]}}
{{River bridge start|River=[[River Thames]]}}
{{River item line|upstream=[[Sonning Bridge]] (road)<br>& [[Sonning Backwater Bridges]]|downstream=[[Henley Bridge]] (road)}}
{{River item line|upstream=[[Sonning Bridge]] (road)<br>& [[Sonning Backwater Bridges]]|downstream=[[Henley Bridge]] (road)}}
{{End box}}
{{S-end}}


{{coord|51|30|07|N|0|52|41|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}
{{coord|51|30|07|N|0|52|41|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}
Line 60: Line 64:
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1897]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1897]]
[[Category:Bridges across the River Thames]]
[[Category:Bridges across the River Thames]]
[[Category:Bridges in Berkshire]]
[[Category:Railway bridges in Berkshire]]
[[Category:Bridges in Oxfordshire]]
[[Category:Railway bridges in Oxfordshire]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Berkshire]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Oxfordshire]]
[[Category:Thames Path]]

{{Berkshire-struct-stub}}
{{Oxfordshire-struct-stub}}
{{UK-bridge-struct-stub}}

Latest revision as of 11:26, 30 October 2022

Shiplake Railway Bridge
Hen Viaduct
Coordinates51°30′07″N 0°52′41″W / 51.5019°N 0.8781°W / 51.5019; -0.8781
CarriesHenley Regatta Branch Line
CrossesRiver Thames
LocaleShiplake, Oxfordshire
Maintained byNetwork Rail
Characteristics
DesignGirder
MaterialIron
Height17 feet 10 inches (5.44 m)[1]
History
Opened1897
Location
Map

Shiplake Railway Bridge carries the Henley Branch Line to Henley-on-Thames, England across the River Thames, connecting Shiplake in Oxfordshire with Wargrave in Berkshire. It crosses the river just downstream of Shiplake Lock on the reach above Marsh Lock.

History and construction

[edit]

The current bridge was built in 1897. It consists of wrought-iron plate girders supported by cast-iron cylinders filled with concrete. It replaces an earlier timber bridge built in 1857. There were originally two tracks, but the whole line is now single track only; the cylinders which supported the second track still stand today.

The 'Millennium Bridge' that never was

[edit]

In the late 1990s the bridge was the focus of controversy spanning several years after local politicians sought funding from the Millennium Commission to transform it into the 'Millennium Bridge'. The intention was to create a major local tourist attraction by using the supports for the redundant track as the basis for a secondary bridge which would connect walkers' leisure routes and link to a new section of the National Cycle Network.

The proposals split the opinions of the residents of the two villages the bridge was to join. Many in Wargrave saw the advantages of an easy crossing to Shiplake, whilst there were many in Shiplake who were concerned the riverbank was going to be overrun with visitors' cars. Residents in Shiplake formed the Shiplake Bridge Concern Group which for several years ran a campaign to get the plans modified.[2] When the plans, which had only been changed in minor ways, were finally put before the South Oxfordshire District Council an all-time record number of objections was received.[3]

Although planning permission for the 'Millennium Bridge' was ultimately granted after several re-submissions, the delays created by those campaigning against it resulted in the project being abandoned on cost grounds: it had been costed in the mid-90s when the building industry was in recession, but by the time the go-ahead was given the economy was booming again and the projected costs had doubled.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ River Thames Alliance. Bridge heights on the River Thames. Archived 24 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Initial plans
  3. ^ Revised plans


Next crossing upstream River Thames Next crossing downstream
Sonning Bridge (road)
& Sonning Backwater Bridges 		Shiplake Railway Bridge Henley Bridge (road)

51°30′07″N 0°52′41″W / 51.50194°N 0.87806°W / 51.50194; -0.87806

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shiplake_Railway_Bridge&oldid=1119041336"