Hull’s River Bridges: Sculcoates Bridge 1875
“In exercise of powers vested in them by the ‘Local Government Supplemental Act 1871 (No.4)’, the Board of Trade approve of the bridge which the Kingston-Upon-Hull Local Board of Health propose to construct across the River Hull, as shown by the plan and sections on this drawing and on the annexed drawings. And this assent is given without prejudice to the Interest and Estate of Her Majesty the Queen or other the owner or owners in the soil of the tidal lands to be interfered with, and also upon the condition that the said bridge be completed within three years from the date hereof. After the 11th day of February 1876 this assent shall, unless reviewed, be void and of no effect.”
C. Cecil Trevor, Board of Trade, February 11th, 1873.
General Plan and Section of Bridge and Approaches: J Fox Sharp, Borough Engineer 25th October 1872
Sculcoates Bridge Original Turning Gear 1872
Sculcoates 1891 map published with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
Sculcoates Bridge New Operating Machinery Contract Plan No.2 1937
Sculcoates Bridge New Operating Machinery Contract Plan No.6 1937
Sculcoates is Grade II listed and it is the oldest bridge in the city.
Historic England describe it as a
“swing road bridge spanning River Hull. Dated 1874. Designed by J Fox Sharp and made by the Bridge & Roofing Co. Ltd., of Darlaston. Riveted wrought-iron girders with arch tops forming the span, with wrought-iron guard rails to the wooden footways on either side. At the west, pivoted end, a taper roller bearing with sectional cast-iron cage and counterweights in the form of short coped walls with capped rectangular pedestals, all with plinths and cornices. Pedestals have panels with coats of arms and inscription. Approx 5m to west, a pair of fluted cast-iron bollards with caps. Free end has a pair of cast-iron support wheels. The mechanism is complete and operable”. Historic England.
Sculcoates Bridge is often referred to as Chapman Street Bridge but has been closed to motorists since March 2020, undergoing feasability studies for repair and development.
The photographs below show the bridge from a kayak and from the motor barge Syntan swinging for the Open Bridges event on 22.09.2017.
Photograph courtesy of Peter Hart, Hull and District Canoe Club. Taken during a river trip from North Frodingham to Brough in 1998 to celebrate the club’s 25th anniversary.
Sculcoates swings for the motor barge Syntan on 22.09.2022 at Open Bridges.
The photographs below were taken by photographer Syd Young on 25th March 2013 from both the east and west sides of the city.
Sculcoates West and Sculcoates East by Syd Young
Sculcoates swings for the Syntan for Open Bridges 21.07.2017 by Sarah Baines
Sculcoates Bridge from the river and deck of the motor barge Syntan for Open Bridges 21.07.2017
Rich and Lou Duffy-Howard
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