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1931-08 East side before demolition [B074] 1931-08-03
Probably the site of the earliest bridge to be built in
the City. In 1869 when trenching was being carried out
for a new drainage scheme a series of piles was found
buried not only under the street but in the river. They
are believed to have supported a wooden plankway over the
water. Their age is unknown, but fragments of pottery
found here at the same time were deemed to be of early
Saxon origin. Records prove that a bridge called
"Fibrigge" or "Fifbrigge" was here by
about 1153, and in 1273 the customs at this bridge and
the shops and stalls on the quay on the south side of the
river went to maintain it. A timber structure until Henry
IV's time, it was then rebuilt of stone with two arches.
In 1570 it was washed down by a flood, but three years
later a new bridge of two arches was completed, the
larger arch being 26 feet wide. Considerably repaired in
1756 it was taken down in 1829 when a cast-iron bridge of
a single 36 feet span was erected in its place
(photographed). The carriageway, originally 22 feet wide
was widened on the west side at the end of the 19c to 36
feet to allow for a path on each side and no doubt to
accommodate the new tramways.
Construction of the present bridge commenced in May 1932
by the removal of about 15 feet in width of the old
cast-iron bridge, leaving just sufficient room for he
single tram-track. The first half of the new bridge was
opened to traffic on 1st July 1933, Councillor
H.C.Southgate being the first motorist to cross, shortly
after which the remainder of the old bridge was removed
to enable work to commence on finishing the new
structure. It was completely opened to traffic, without
ceremony, on 29th May 1934. The work was estimated to
cost £22,132 and alterations to the sewerage system
£7,170. The bridge is of reinforced concrete faced with
brickwork, the elevation design being in mediaeval style.
It is 50 feet between the parapets and has two spans,
each 35 feet wide. |
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1931-08 Reconstruction crane at Quayside [B075]
1931-08-03
East side of bridge. |
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1932-05 Fence on E side before demolition [B291]
1932-05-23
View south. |
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1932-05 Fence on E side before demolition [B292]
1932-05-23
View north. |
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1932-05 Fence on E side before demolition [B293]
1932-05-23
View north. |
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1932-07 Wensum new and old river widths [B402]
1932-07-31
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1932-07 East side before rebuilding [B403] 1932-07-31
From Quayside. |
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1932-09 Central pier cofferdam eastern half [B444]
1932-09-11
Cofferdam under construction. |
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1932-09 Central pier cofferdam eastern half [B445]
1932-09-11
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1932-09 Central pier cofferdam crane base [B450]
1932-09-25
Cofferdam complete. |
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1933-02 Construction material on north bank [B475]
1933-02-12
East side of north pier complete. |
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1933-02 Fye Bridge east side seagulls [B476]
1933-02-12
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1933-03 Girders N bank central pier E side [B498]
1933-03-18
East side of central pier complete. Girders for north
arch ready to be set in position. |
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1933-03 Girders N arch E side from Quayside [B499]
1933-03-18
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1933-04 East side girders tram approaching [B533]
1933-04-14
North arch complete. Girders for south arch ready to be
set in position. |
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1933-06 New E side brick and stone parapets [B588]
1933-06-18
East arches and parapet complete. |
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1933-06 Road foundation service pipe duct [B589]
1933-06-18
East carriageway. |
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1933-06 From Quayside tram crossing W half [B590]
1933-06-20
Tram crossing on the old west carriageway. |
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1933-06 New tramlines on east half view N [B591]
1933-06-20
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1933-06 Building materials from Wensum St [B592]
1933-06-20
Traffic crossing on the old west carriageway. |
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1933-06 E carriageway construction view S [B593]
1933-06-20
From Fyebridge St. |
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1933-06 From Crown Court Yard Elm Hill [B594]
1933-06-20
Preparations for working on the west side of the bridge. |
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1933-06 From Roache's Court Elm Hill [B597]
1933-06-27
Commencing work on the west side. |
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1933-06 New carriageway from Fyebridge St [B598]
1933-06-27
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1933-06 New carriageway construction view N [B599]
1933-06-27
From Wensum St. |
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1933-06 From Quayside scaffolding removed [B600]
1933-06-27
East side nearly complete. |
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1933-07 Tram on E side on first traffic day [B604]
1933-07-01
East side of Fyebridge rebuilt. |
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1933-07 Tram on E side on first traffic day [B605]
1933-07-01
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1933-07 From Fyebridge St first traffic day [B606]
1933-07-01
View south. New east and old west carriageways both open. |
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1933-07 West carriageway closed view south [B614]
1933-07-08
Prior to demolition of west side. |
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1933-07 West carriageway closed view north [B615]
1933-07-08
From Wensum St. |
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1933-07 Construction crane on west side [B644]
1933-07-29
From Roaches Court, Elm Hill. |
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1933-07 West carriageway surface removed [B645]
1933-07-29
Revealing the straight girders used when the bridge was
widened by 14 feet in 1898. |
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1933-07 Sections of new carriageway view S [B646]
1933-07-29
Commencement of demolition of west side. |
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1933-07 Sections of both carriageways [B647]
1933-07-29
Showing the evidence of the 1898 widening from 22 to 36
feet. |
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1933-09 West half cofferdam preparations [B765]
1933-09-05
Demolition of old bridge complete. View south. |
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1933-09 Central cofferdam piles west half [B780]
1933-09-17
View south. |
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1933-10 Completed cofferdam west half [B783]
1933-10-05
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1933-10 Reconstruction of W side view south [B787]
1933-10-08
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1933-11 W carriageway construction view N [B797]
1933-11-02
Excavations commenced for the construction of the
remainder of the south pier. |
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1933-11 W carriageway construction view S [B798]
1933-11-02
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1933-11 Start of S bank cofferdam west half [B800]
1933-11-12
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1933-11 South pier piles cofferdam W half [B805]
1933-11-19
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1933-11 Crane from Roache's Court Elm Hill [B806]
1933-11-19
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1933-12 Central pier west half complete [B809]
1933-12-05
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1933-12 Central pier west half complete [B810]
1933-12-05
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1934-01 Girders west half north side [0001]
1934-01-05
From Fyebridge St. |
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1934-01 West half view north [0003] 1934-01-05
From Wensum St. |
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1934-01 West half view north [0004] 1934-01-05
From Wensum St. |
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1934-01 Rear of Fishergate north bank [0005]
1934-01-05
View downstream prior to river widening. |
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1934-01 West half N arch foundations view S [0018]
1934-01-21
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1934-02 West half N arch foundations view S [0027]
1934-02-06
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1934-02 West half N arch foundations view S [0028]
1934-02-06
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1934-02 Diver by central pier view north [0037]
1934-02-20
About to carry out oxy-acetylene work. |
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1934-03 Tarpaulins over north arch W side [0048]
1934-03-04
North arch of west carriageway almost complete. |
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1934-03 West side girders S channel view N [0049]
1934-03-04
Girders for west side of south arch ready to be set in
position. |
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1934-03 Excavations to widen river by arch [0067]
1934-03-31
Digging out earth from below north arch, from Quayside. |
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1934-03 Excavations to widen river by arch [0068]
1934-03-31
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1934-03 Wire carriageway foundation W side [0069]
1934-03-31
South arch. |
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1934-04 Tramtrack laid on west side view N [0086]
1934-04-28
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1934-04 West side parapet nearly complete [0087]
1934-04-28
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1934-04 Tarpaulins on west side view north [0088]
1934-04-28
Tramtrack being laid. |
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1934-04 Tarpaulins on west side view north [0089]
1934-04-28
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1934-05 Dredging Wensum by engine on N bank [0091]
1934-05-10
Traction engine dredging by dragline. |
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1934-05 West half pedestrians only view S [0096]
1934-05-18
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1934-05 Fence removed from centre of bridge [0105]
1934-05-24
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1934-06 Dredger grab for widening Wensum [0110]
1934-06-08
Widening north side upstream of bridge. |
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1934-06 Carriageways open to traffic view N [0111]
1934-06-08
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1934-06 Carriageways open to traffic view N [0112]
1934-06-08
The bridge was completed and fully opened to traffic on
29th May 1934. |
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1934-06 Dredger by Roache's Court Elm Hill [0113]
1934-06-08
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Wensum Fye Bridge east side from Quayside [0619]
1935-08-06
Probably the first bridge to be built over the river in
Norwich. Records go back to 1153 but in 1896, when
trenching for a drainage scheme, a series of wooden plies
from Elm Hill to Fishergate suggested an earlier wooden
plankway. A timber bridge here until Henry IV's time, it
was then rebuilt of stone. In 1572 a new bridge of two
arches replaced one washed down by floods. Repaired in
1756 it was replaced in 1829 by a single cast iron span
of 36 feet, 22 feet between parapets, later increased to
37 feet on the west side. The present structure has two
spans each of 35 feet, 50 feet between the parapets.
Supported by steel girders it is of reinforced concrete
faced with bricks. First half opened to traffic 1st July
1933. Completely opened 29th May 1934. |
Norwich Fyebridge Rebuilding
