Eamont Bridge (structure)

Eamont Bridge is a road bridge over the River Eamont, at the village of the same name, immediately to the south of Penrith, Cumbria, England. It is a scheduled monument[1] and a grade I listed building (it has two listings as it spans a parish boundary and is listed under both).[2][3]

Eamont Bridge
The bridge in August 2013
Coordinates54.651520°N 2.742000°W / 54.651520; -2.742000
CarriesA6 road
CrossesRiver Eamont
LocalePenrith, Cumbria, England
Heritage status
Designated5 July 1926
Reference no.1007193
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated24 April 1951
6 February 1968
Reference no.1145133
1145301
Characteristics
Material
No. of spans3
History
Construction start15th century
ClosedDecember 2015

The narrow bridge lies on the A6 road, and until the opening of the M6 motorway, it was a notorious bottleneck. It is still controlled by traffic lights.

The bridge crosses the old county boundary between Cumberland and Westmorland and is one of the oldest bridges in the county still in daily use. It was built in 1425 after the Bishop of Durham, Thomas Langley, offered indulgences to anyone contributing towards its construction, and it was widened in 1875.[1] It is a slightly humpbacked three-arched bridge made of grey sandstone with alterations in red sandstone. The solid parapets include pedestrian refuges above the pillars. Like the village, the bridge stands partly in Yanwath and Eamont Bridge parish and partly in Penrith.[3]

In December 2015, the bridge was declared unsafe and closed to traffic, following severe flooding[4] caused by Storm Frank. The bridge sustained significant damage, with a one-metre hole reported in a supporting pillar.[5] It was repaired and reopened in March 2016.[6]

See also

References
  1. Historic England. "Eamont Bridge (1007193)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  2. Historic England. "Eamont Bridge (1145133)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  3. Historic England. "Eamont Bridge (1145301)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  4. Fallowfield, Carl (21 December 2015). "Council Leader concerned for Eamont Bridge and neighbouring communities". Cumbria Crack. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  5. "One metre hole in Eamont Bridge". ITV News. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  6. "Flood-hit Eamont Bridge to reopen after repairs". BBC. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
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