Description and History of Site:-
Pollard Bridge is a single-span cast-iron road bridge across the River Aire at Horsforth, erected in 1819 by John Pollard of Newlay House. Cast at the Shelf Ironworks of Aydon & Elwell, it is one of only two surviving bridges by the firm in Yorkshire (the other being at Sowerby Bridge). The bridge cost £1,500 to build and was originally constructed as a toll crossing for the Micklethwaite Estate.
The structure spans about 82–92 ft and is around 12 ft 6 in wide, carrying a 7 ft carriageway with narrow footways. Its four segmental arch ribs, each in three sections, rest on sandstone abutments, with spandrels forming rhomboid openings. A low parapet of iron panels and railings completes the design, with plaques recording the builder and founders: “John Pollard, Newlay House, erected this bridge AD 1819” and “Aydon & Elwell, Shelf Iron Works, near Bradford.”
Taken over jointly in 1888 by the Midland Railway and Horsforth Council to serve Newlay and Horsforth Station, the bridge later passed into public ownership. It was repaired in 1973, refurbished in the early 1980s at a cost of £46,220, and closed to vehicular traffic by 1986. Today it stands as one of the oldest surviving iron bridges in Yorkshire, a rare and elegant example of early 19th-century cast-iron engineering.
Further Reading and References:-
Brears, Peter. 'Leeds Waterfront Heritage Trail'. Leeds City Museum, 1993
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Key Words :- cast iron road bridge single span arch
Viewing the Site :- Can be viewed from the public footpath over the bridge, limited parking on Newlay Lane
Address :- Newlay Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS13 1EQ
Grid Ref :- SE 23876 36943
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.828208 , Long -1.63874
Local Authority :- Leeds Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II*
Historic England List No - 1375481,
Site Condition :- Site conserved and open to the public
Site Dates :- 1819 - Present
Contributor :- John Suter - 26 November 2014
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © John Suter
Grid Ref :- SE 23876 36943
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.828208 , Long -1.63874
Local Authority :- Leeds Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II*
Historic England List No - 1375481,
Site Condition :- Site conserved and open to the public
Site Dates :- 1819 - Present
Contributor :- John Suter - 26 November 2014
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © John Suter