Eckington Bridge
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Eckington Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 52°04′45″N 2°06′54″W / 52.0793°N 2.1149°W |
| Carries | B4080 |
| Crosses | River Avon |
| Locale | Eckington, Worcestershire, England |
| Heritage status | Grade II* listed building |
| Characteristics | |
| No. of spans | 5 |
| History | |
| Construction start | c. 1720 |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Eckington Bridge | |
Eckington Bridge is a stone bridge over the River Avon in Eckington in the English county of Worcestershire. It is a Grade II* listed building and has been scheduled as an ancient monument.[1][2][3]
The first bridge at the site was built in 1440, replacing an earlier ferry, but this fell into disrepair and was replaced by the current stone bridge in the 1720s.[4][5] It consists of six arches built of red sandstone with the piers being protected by cutwaters.[6]
On the northern side of the bridge, slightly downstream, is a World War II pillbox.
During 2011 and 2012 repairs were undertaken by Worcestershire County Council at a cost of £240,000.[7]
Next to the bridge is Eckington Wharf, which is no longer used commercially but provides public moorings, a canoe launching slipway and picnic area.[8][9]
The bridge is the subject of a poem by Arthur Quiller-Couch,[10] and a picture from 1929 by Walter J. Phillips.[11]
In 2022 a collision between two cars on the bridge caused damage and a car entered the river.[12] The driver of that car died.[13]
