The bridges of Salford and Manchester .......... nu 8 back with a favourite

The day back in November was grey and cold and the clouds seemed to touch the ground.

So I cheered myself up with another picture of that bridge I like.

Location; the River Irwell,














Picture; The Irwell Road Bridge, 2016 from the collection of Andrew Simpson

The bridges of Salford and Manchester .......... nu 7 walking over the river

Now this one sprang up when I wasn't looking.

And just because it is silly I shall aim to walk over each of the Salford bridges before Chris on the same day.

Location; Salford

Picture; the Irwell Street Bridge, 2016 from the collection of Andrew Simpson

The bridges of Salford and Manchester .......... nu 6 looking over the river from the Irwell Street Bridge

Now I have always taken this one for granted which is a shame because it is not only a fine looking bridge but stands out on the river.

But as Bill pointed out I omitted to include the Irwell Street Bridge in the picture.

And so you will either have to go back to nu 5 or wait for number 8.

Such is the joy of the blog.
Location; Salford

Picture; the Irwell Street Bridge, 2016 from the collection of Andrew Simpson

The bridges of Salford and Manchester .......... nu 5 the Irwell Street Bridge

Now I have always taken this one for granted which is a shame because it is not only a fine looking bridge but stands out on the river.

Location; Salford










Picture; the Irwell Street Bridge, 2016 from the collection of Andrew Simpson

The bridges of Salford and Manchester ........... nu 4 two for one

Now I am the first to admit the lighting is all wrong and I suspect the composition is iffy but its a picture of a bridge.

Which actually contains two ....... one behind the other and three if you count the  the footbridge.

And that is all I am going to say.

Location Salford

Picture; the river and the bridge, 2016 from the collection of Andrew Simpson

The bridges of Salford and Manchester ........... nu 3 how things change

I recently included much the same view along the river in the 1850s by the artist C W Clennell.

And then I was back in 2016.

Location Salford











Picture; the river and the bridge, 2016 from the collection of Andrew Simpson

The bridges of Salford and Manchester ......... nu 2 Victoria Bridge, sometime in the 1850s

Now there is not much more to say.

 It is the work of C W Clennel sometime in the 1850s.
But there is more.
And for that I am indebted to Alan who quick as a flash, added that

"Haha, I beg to differ Andrew, there is much to say, for instance the first mention of the bridge over the river Irwell was in the Lancashire Inquisitions of 1226. 

In 1368 Thomas Bothe a wealthy Yeoman of Barton on Irwell bequeathed £30 in his will to the Bridge on which he had previously built a chapel.where prayers were to be said for the soul of the founder.In 1505, the Chapel was converted to a prison.

On September 25th 1642 was the Battle of Salford Bridge between the Parliamentary forces and the Royalists. 

On July 1776 the bridge was widened by taking down the Dungeon and extending its piers and arches. 

On July 2nd 1838 the first stone on the Salford side of Victoria Bridge was laid by Mr Elkanah Armitage, the Borough Reeve of Salford and on July the 2nd the first stone on the Salford side was laid by Mr J Brown, Borough Reeve of Manchester.

On October 16th, the central arches were washed away.

On January 7th 1839 the arches of Victoria bridge were once again destroyed in a Gale. There were to be many more great floods, but the bridge appears to have escaped further damage, here ends my little hisory of Victoria Bridge...... "

And I think pretty much does justice to the old bridge.  Thank you Alan

Location; Salford

Picture, Victoria Bridge, C W Clennell, m77145 courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass

The bridges of Salford and Manchester ....... nu 1 Blackfriars Bridge sometime in the 1850s

Now of course it does really depend on which way you cross the bridge.

But I am not a pedant.

And I am not inclined to add anything more, save to say it is another by the artist Mr C W Clennell who strolled into Salford from Manchester sometime in the 1850s and this was the result.

So far I have come across four of paintings featuring Salford.

And that is al I am going to say.

Location; Salford

Picture, Blackfriars Bridge, C W Clennell, , m77146 courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass

Crossing into Salford ……. Victoria Bridge

I can’t count the number of times I have crossed Victoria Bridge over the years, but I have rarely noticed its street furniture.

So, here are two.

The purists will point out that the first bit of furniture, is actually on the Manchester side of the river ....... but I won't be pedantic if you won't.

The rest is for you to go and explore.

Although I will just point to the date on the side of the lamp.

Location; Victoria Bridge











Pictures; Salford Street Furniture, 2020, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

The bridges of Salford and Manchester .......... nu 10 the 1980s

And here is the second of a few from John Casey.

Location Manchester & Salford










Picture; the river and bridge, circa 1980 from the collection of John Casey

The bridges of Salford and Manchester .......... nu 9 the 1980s

And here is the first of a few from John Casey.

Location; Manchester & Salford









Picture; the river and bridge, circa 1980 from the collection of John Casey

The view from the Bridge ……. another development

Crossing the Bridge

Location; Salford

Pictures New Bailey Bridge, 2020, from the; collection of Andy Robertson

The bridges of Salford and Manchester .......... nu 18 just three years ago.

John Casey often supplies me with fine pictures he took in the 1980s, but this one comes from three years ago.

Location Manchester & Salford






Picture; the river and bridge, 2014 from the collection of John Casey

The bridges of Salford and Manchester .......... nu 17 ...... the Trafford Road Bridge

 From Ron Stubley











Picture; from the collection of Ron Stubley, 2017

The bridges of Salford and Manchester .......... nu 16 from the camera of John Knight

From John Knight

Picture; from the collection of John Knight, 2017

The bridges of Salford and Manchester .......... nu 15 from the camera of John Knight

From John Knight

Picture; from the collection of John Knight, 2017

The bridges of Salford and Manchester .......... nu 14 from the camera of John Knight

From John Knight

Picture; New Quay Street Bridge to the pedestrian bridge, from the collection of John Knight

The bridges of Salford and Manchester .......... nu 13 from the camera of John Knight

From John Knight

Picture; the river and bridge, date unknown, from the collection of John Knight

The bridges of Salford and Manchester .......... nu 12 from the camera of John Knight

From John Knight




Picture; the river and bridge, date unknown, from the collection of John Knight

The view from the Bridge

A Salford Bridge looking out across a Manchester scene.

The two in one picture

Location; the river and the bridge




Picture; 2018 from the collection of Andy Robertson