Monument record MWX1233 - Tuckton Bridge

Tuckton Bridge was an early reinforced concrete road bridge across the River Stour, built in 1905 and possibly the first such bridge to bear a double track tramway. It replaced an earlier timber toll bridge.

The original Tuckton Bridge was a timber toll bridge built in 1882. It was replaced by a reinforced concrete bridge designed by Louis Gustave Mouchel in 1905. The design of the bridge imitated in concrete many of the features of the original timber structure. It has a wide central span, eleven smaller spans and a half span at either bank. The main spans are constructed of segmental arch ribs and braced at the piers by cross beams. Footways are cantilevered at either side of the roadway. The new bridge was designed to carry a new double track tramway across the river Stour to connect Christchurch to the Poole and Bournemouth tramway network. It was possibly the first reinforced concrete bridge to carry a double tramway. <1>

SZ 149923 Tuckton Tram Bridge originally was a toll foot-bridge across the Stour and when replaced by the Tram Bridge a toll was still charged. <2>

<1> Johnson, S M, and Scott-Giles, C W, 1933, British Bridges (Monograph). SDO12577.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 1973, Report of CBA Panel on Industrial Monuments, 1 (Unpublished document). SWX4376.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1976 (Map). SWX1540.

SZ 14949226 Tuckton Bridge

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 458991 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 30 2024 10:31AM