Walney Bridge
Encyclopedia
Walney Bridge is a bridge
in Cumbria
, England that connects Barrow-in-Furness
on the British mainland
to Walney Island
.
Talks began in 1897 to how feasible the construction of a bridge connecting Barrow to Walney would be. At the time, Walney residents where frustrated by the fact that they had to use a ferry to traverse the Walney Channel
, and they also saw it as an opportunity to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee
of Queen Victoria. When the bridge was finally approved many companies fought for the building contract with Sir William Arrol & Co winning it. Construction of the £175,000 (in that time) bridge began in mid-1905 and was finally opened by Barrow mayor Mrs. T.F. Taylor on 30 July 1908. For 27 years Walney bridge was a toll bridge until the 4 April 1935 the late Queen Mother
officially renamed it Jubilee Bridge to mark the silver jubilee of King George V of the United Kingdom
, as recorded on a plaque on the bridge, and handed it to the townspeople. During World War II
, the Bascule bridge
was lifted every night to ensure that anyone who made landfall on Walney where unable to reach Barrow by crossing the bridge and reaching its shipbuilding facilities. The bridge is now over 100 years old, and in 2008 Cumbria County Council
spent £1 million on renovating the bridge and repainting it for its centenary celebration.
.
, home of Thomas the Tank Engine
et al. in The Railway Series
books by the Reverend W. Awdry
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, England that connects Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
on the British mainland
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
to Walney Island
Walney Island
The Isle of Walney, also known as Walney Island, is an island in the United Kingdom which lies off the west coast of England, at the northern tip of Morecambe Bay. It forms part of the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, and it is separated from the mainland at Barrow by Walney Channel, a narrow channel...
.
History
Walney Channel
Walney Channel is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water in the Irish Sea which separates Walney Island from Barrow-in-Furness on the Great Britain mainland. The channel forms the head of the Furness peninsula and is approximately in length....
, and they also saw it as an opportunity to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee
Diamond Jubilee
A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary in the case of a person or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event.- Thailand :...
of Queen Victoria. When the bridge was finally approved many companies fought for the building contract with Sir William Arrol & Co winning it. Construction of the £175,000 (in that time) bridge began in mid-1905 and was finally opened by Barrow mayor Mrs. T.F. Taylor on 30 July 1908. For 27 years Walney bridge was a toll bridge until the 4 April 1935 the late Queen Mother
Queen mother
Queen Mother is a title or position reserved for a widowed queen consort whose son or daughter from that marriage is the reigning monarch. The term has been used in English since at least 1577...
officially renamed it Jubilee Bridge to mark the silver jubilee of King George V of the United Kingdom
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, as recorded on a plaque on the bridge, and handed it to the townspeople. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Bascule bridge
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
was lifted every night to ensure that anyone who made landfall on Walney where unable to reach Barrow by crossing the bridge and reaching its shipbuilding facilities. The bridge is now over 100 years old, and in 2008 Cumbria County Council
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
spent £1 million on renovating the bridge and repainting it for its centenary celebration.
Centenary Celebrations
The bridge recently celebrated its 100th anniversary with significant renovation and a night of fireworksFireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
.
In Fiction
The bridge was the link to the fictional island of SodorSodor (fictional island)
Sodor is a fictional island in the Irish Sea used as the setting for The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and later used in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends television series.-Inspiration and creation:...
, home of Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
et al. in The Railway Series
The Railway Series
The Railway Series is a set of story books about a railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first being published in 1945. Twenty-six were written by the Rev. W. Awdry, up to 1972. A further 16 were written by his son, Christopher Awdry; 14...
books by the Reverend W. Awdry