Description and History of Site:-
Tickford Bridge is a single-arch cast-iron road bridge with sandstone abutments, designed by Thomas Wilson from a conceptual plan by Henry Provis of Paddington, Engineer to the Grand Junction Canal. The ironwork was cast by Walkers of Rotherham, Yorkshire, under the supervision of William Yates, Walkers’ senior engineer.

Construction began in June 1810 and was completed by September 29, 1810, when the first tolls were collected. The date “1810” is inscribed at the centre of the arch on both sides.

The bridge features six segmental compound arched trusses with circular patterns, each cast in eleven voussoir segments joined with mortice-and-tenon joints, spanning 17.68 m (58 ft) and connected horizontally by diaphragm beams. The road deck sits in continuous lugs, supported by cambered beams joined to the arches through diminishing circular bars in the spandrels. Cast-iron railings line the carriageway, with four decorative stanchions between the stone end piers and a raised lamp standard at the centre on each side.

The bridge was strengthened in 1900 with wrought-iron plates added to the two central bays and again in 1976 with a reinforced concrete deck on plastic foam over the original structure.

Tickford Bridge was built under an Act authorising the replacement of road bridges at Newport Pagnell, which received Royal Assent in June 1809. It is one of only three surviving bridges from a notable series cast by Walker & Co. - the others being a 1801 bridge in Spanish Town, Jamaica, now in poor condition, and a 1802 estate bridge at Stratfield Saye, Hampshire, which is narrower and has simpler balustrading.

Recognised as a pioneering work of early cast-iron engineering, Tickford Bridge survives largely in its original condition, continues to carry modern traffic, and stands as a monument of national importance in the history of civil engineering and the use of cast iron.

Further Reading and References:-
Cossons, Neil. 'The BP Book of Industrial Archaeology'. David & Charles, 1975
Falconer, Keith. 'Guide to England's Industrial Heritage'. Batsford, 1980
Minchinton, Walter. 'A Guide to Industrial Archaeology Sites in Britain'. Granada Publishing, 1984
Labrum, E A [ed]. 'Civil Engineering Heritage - Eastern and Central England'. Institution of Civil Engineers, 1994
Pevsner, N, Williamson, E, The Buildings of England: Buckinghamshire, (1994), 578
Harris, M P, 'Newport Pagnell's Iron Bridge' in Wolverton and District Archaeological Journal, Vol. I, (1968), 60-3

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Key Words :- single arch cast iron bridge

Address :- Tickford End, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire
Grid Ref :- SP 87803 43825
Co-ordinates :- Lat 52.085823 , Long -0.719988
Local Authority :- Buckinghamshire Council
Pre 1974 County :- Buckinghamshire
Site Status :- Listed - Grade I
Historic England List No - 1125464,
Site Condition :- Operational site, in use for original purpose
Site Dates :- 1810 - current
Contributor :- John Suter - 19 April 2022

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © John Suter