Monument record MDO19584 - New Ground bridge 2, Portland

Arched road bridge carrying New Ground road over Merchants' Railway quarry branch incline. Well built in stone, with date 1882 on stone over arch.

Arched road bridge carrying New Ground road over Merchants' Railway quarry branch incline. Well built in stone, with date 1882 on stone over arch. (1) Shown in published photographs. (2-3)
Digital archive Images of England description as follows: PORTLAND SY6873 NEW GROUND, Yeates 969-1/3/188 Bridge at SY 6926 7326 GV II Road bridge over former tramway. Dated 1881. [Note: this is WRONG: it is 1882] Heavy rock-faced masonry. Single segmental arch with voussoirs and keystone, carrying date on S side, set on lofty plain abutments to a deep glacis/plinth. Heavy square-edged weathered parapets and short pilaster stops, parapet c 1m above roadway, which is c 10m long x 3m wide. The lower (N) side has short curved abutments raked down on either side. One of a group of bridges of similar date and design. It is a reminder of the nineteenth century industrial activity in the quarries of the island, when rail and tramways were an important aspect of the transport system. (4)

<1> Peter Stanier, 2006, Field observation, 15 March (Verbal communication). SDO10251.

<2> Morris, S, 1990, Portland Camera, plate 93 (Monograph). SDO10273.

<3> Jackson, B L, 1999, Isle of Portland Railways, vol. 1. The Admiralty and Quarry Railways, 30 & 32 (Monograph). SDO10248.

<4> English Heritage, Images of England, No.381992 (Digital archive). SDO10300.

Record last edited

Aug 31 2007 3:46AM