In 1953 the project to replace the stone bridge across the Little Ouse moved into its practical phase. Cedric Woods compiled a scrapbook of photographs that documented the building of the new bridge. This book is now in the care of the Brandon Heritage Centre. The society would like to thank the centre for their assistance in the preparation of this digital version.
The old bridge before work started. Photo by Chas Farrow
May 28th 1953.By which time the old bridge had been entirely demolished, half the old “maltings” taken down, and the first pier of the new bridge was under construction. The picture shows rubble from the old bridge, the remaining half of the “maltings”, the traffic lights regulating single line traffic over the wooden bridge, and the “Skylon” crane.
Taken from the wooden bridge, this picture shows the “reinforcing rods” in position for the first arch (on the town side of the new bridge)
A little more to the left, this shows the “rods” for the “town side of the main (centre) arch, which were inserted in the 1st pier at the same time.
June 16 1953. Curved concrete supports give the shape of the first arch. These are covered with wooden “ribs” (see below), which in turn are …
…covered with fibre-board to give a smooth “underface”” to the cement arch. All this structure will be removed when the concrete is set.
July 23rd 1953 Looking down into what will be the first pier, as they nail the fibreboard into place for the 1st “arch-shape”.
Looking towards “The Ram”, this view shows the last part of the “roadside”maltings being demolished and the “caisson” for the farther pier in position. A section of the wooden bridge can also be seen.
August 8th The fibre-board in place, a lot more “rods” are locked in position to reinforce the concrete curve of the first arch. These two pictures give a good idea…
….of the number of “rods” that will finally be buried in the cement. In the upper one the “end-board” can be seen, showing how thick the first concrete will be
August 28th. ON THE JOB.! Almost tne last crane-load of concrete is lowered into position on the first arch. Note the wooden “shaper”.
Sept 2nd. The “near” end of the first arch. Part of the wooden bridge now in use can be seen on the right.
8.8.53. Showing the “end-shape” (in reinforcing rods) of the first pier. (Fibre-board and # “end- board” of 1st arch in foreground )
31.8.535. The concreting of the first arch complete. If you . have good eyesight you can see the date of completion – 28.8.53 – scratched in the still-wet concrete. (In the middle of the “dark patch”)
MEANWHILE:- 23rd July 1953 The second pier is under construction. This view is looking into the “caisson” to the dry river~bed, before any work on the actual pier has started.
8.8.53. The pier takes shape, and the first layer of concrete has been laid. (The ladder is standing on it.)
31.8.53. More concrete in the “bed” of the 2nd Pier and the first few “reinforcing rods” for the station side of the central arch being wired into place. The next picture gives their relative position to the ….
….-“rods” ofthe town side of the arch, showing how much larger is the span than of any arches of the old bridge.
2.9.53. First row of rods complete on the station side of the main (centre) arch. Note the ends of this lot turn inwards.
2.9.53. Looking along the bridge-to-be (towards the station) showing the rods on either side of the centre arch. (New wall of Brandon House can be seen in the distance)
7.9.53. Cementing-in the rods on both sides of the 2nd pier. Note that a second row has now been added, the ends of which turn outward.
18.9.53. Still more concrete in the 2nd pier.
31.8.53. Two pictures of the station side “base” of the third (& last) arch. Here is the concrete before any rods were fixed.
"Caisson" tight up against river bank
18.9.53 More concrete with rods embedded.
26.10 53. Again I catch them just at the end off concreting. The 2 small arches were done first, leaving the centre arch till last.
6.10. 53. Looking along the 2nd pier, under what will be the centre arch.
26.10. 53. Platform in the river to assist in erecting the supports for the main central arch.
31.10.5. First supports for centre arch in position.
31. 10. 53. Note the much "flatter" curve than for the smaller side arches.
19.11.53. The "ribs" begin to cover the concrete supports. (This is the last view we'll have of the water from this position.) .
Viewed from another angle, there appear to be more “ribs” than in the picture above, but they were both taken at the same time.
16.12 53. CENTRE ARCH. "Ribs", fibre-board and rods" all in position and ready for concrete. (The "structure" on top was presumably to carry tarpaulins, as a frost precaution while cement was setting. )
21.12.53. The side of the centre arch, showing metal slats holding tne wet concrete in place on the "steep" slope.
21. 12 53. Laying the concrete on the top of the centre arch. The man with. the nozzle is working the concrete between the rods.
The concrete is mixed fairly “dry”, liquid coming steadily through the nozzle helps to “work it” into place between the rods.
Waiting for more concrete to be delivered by the crane ….
….and here it is ! Now we’ll soon be ready for Christmas
27.1.54. A MYSTERY! During January, these huge concrete “serviette-rings” + made their appearance in both “valleys” between the bridge arches. Then they disappeared again, and “were no more seen.
24.2.54 In February, the flint “facing” of the bridge made good progress. This view shows the first (town side) arch, and (on left) the projection of the first pier.)
24.2.54. TWO MORE VIEWS OF THE “FACINGS”. TOP:- Showing the central arch and both piers. Below:- ditto in relation to the progress of the bridge itself
The concrete of two arches show in this view, though there only appears to be one. The division occurs approx: halfway up the image.
Feb. 24th 1954. This picture, taken through the 8’6″ gap between Bridge House and the girder structure protecting the new bridge, thru’ which all traffic has to pass, shows the position of the approaching new road as compared with the old one which curves by “The Ram”. The new “terraced” wall of Brandon House can be seen on the right , the concrete road close beside it. Still standing sections of the old maltings wall prevent a better view of the road itself.
8.3.54. The arches concreted, and both sides of the bridge walled-up and faced with flints, it will soon be time for “filling-in”. Note the deep ‘scratched! outside the curve of the centre arch.
8.3.54. Putting a smooth finish to the concrete end-work of the third (station side) arch.
11.3.54. As the last stage before filling-in, a thick coating of “asphalt” is applied to all the archwork. Drainage vents were left in both sides of the “valleys”.
23.3.54. Loose shingle is dumped on the top of all arches, as a base" for the filling material.
23.3.54. The road from the station being made-up on the approaches to the bridge.
26.3.54. Three days later, and “road-rubble” has covered the further arch. This will be levelled out by the bulldozer and flattened down by the steamroller.
23.3.54. Making up the new road on the town side of the bridge.
The approach to the town side of the bridge, showing the new road by the side of the existing "single-line traffic" road in front of Connaught House.
26.45.54. Looking "across" tne nearly filled-in bridge. (towards the station ).
27.3.54. “ THE LAST DITCH" All that remains to be "filled in” is the "valley" between the first and centre arches, i.e. the space over the first pier.
Taken at the same time as “The last Ditch”, this is looking along the bridge in the direction of the station.
27.3.54. The approach to the bridge from the station side, looking up High Street, and is showing wooden bridge on the right
19. 4.54. And while we’re on the subject of the wooden bridge, we’d better get a proper picture of it before it’s too late. ( Taken from “The Ouse Hotel” drive. )
19.4.54. The rising walls of the new bridge, taken from the south-east corner. “Rods” indicate how much higher the wall has still to go.
MARCH 30th 1954. Five views from the “belvedere” on the wooden bridge joined together to give the first (more or less) “panoramic” picture of the now completely “earthed- in” bridge. On this day traffic could, in an emergency, have crossed the new bridge. But, for the moment, only the steamroller has “right-of-way”. (This picture was, obviously, taken in the dinner hour.)
10.4. 54. Now the surface has to be covered with a thick concrete road. This is laid in two “halves”, and line in this picture the further section is already nearly halfway over the bridge.
12.4.54. On the station-side approach, the second “half" reaches the bridge. Note "rods" protruding from ends and sides of each section, to interlock wit:h the next.
13 4 54 Another section of the concrete road being laid. One man shovels the last load of concrete mixture into place while two others “level-off”.
A few minutes later and the whole section is being levelled. Each “half” is about 11 feet across
Besides another section of the further half of the road, this shows how the “facing” is built up. The brick “inside” wall is laid first, then the plank put into position. The space between (with the rods) is then filled with cement, with the “facing” flints just touching the plank,
19.4.54. One half of the road has almost joined up with the existing High Street, while the other is still well up on the bridge.
QUESTION By Easter, the road over the bridge ( from the station side) begins to look most inviting. How long now, before it is in use ?
AND ANSWER ! Exactly four weeks. On May 17th 1954 the new bridge was in use, though still for single-line traffic until the remainder of the roadway (left) was finished. (“The Limes”on right. )
Another picture of the bridge on the first day it was in use for traffic, looking towards the station.
17.5.54 The parapet nears completion. The wooden bridge (now no longer in use) shows in the background, just behind the bridge wall.
23.5.54. The end of the wooden bridge. It had carried all traffic for nearly 2 years, and northbound traffic for ten years longer than that. But it did not take long to demolish!
Paving stones ready to go down as soon as the pipes are laid under the pavement -to-be. Note the ornamental wooden railings on the approach to the parapet.
ON JULY 23rd 1954, at 5.0p.m. THE NEW BRIDGE WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED
The road is closed for an hour, and the crowd begins to gather to watch the opening ceremony.(Wide pavement grass verge in front of Connaught House )
Among the V.I.P.s on the bridge, the Minister of Transport, Mr. Lennox Boyd, makes a sgmexak speech before stepping forward to cut the tape.
The Minister cuts the tape… . . andthe new bridge is officially OPEN !
Mr. Lennox-Boyd is the first to drive his car (both ways ) over the newly- opened bridge.
Looking from the top of the bridge towards the level-crossing gates.
The northern approach to the bridge, from the station direction. Bridge House on right.
. " The Ram Hotel", showing the old and the new roads, with a grassed area between them.
The bridge, taken from the old road in front of the “Ram”. Note the “cul-de- sac in front of Bridge House.
FOUR VIEWS OF THE NEW BRIDGE.
From the Maltings" side, and looking up the High Street. ( A view unobtainable with the old bridge.)
From the South-East, comp,lete with watching G.I. (Taken from the “Jetty” showing in the snap above
From the South-West. Taken from “The Ouse Hotel ” garden
