The Architecture of British Bridges

During the Industrial Revolution, Britain was

at the forefront of bridge innovation.

Pioneering designers such as George and

Robert Stephenson, Thomas Telford and

Isambard Kingdom Brunel created Britain’s

rich bridge heritage that features many

world firsts and we can learn much from

their ground-breaking designs.

Written by an experienced bridge architect,

this book introduces the importance of

aesthetic consideration in the design of

bridges and the value of learning from the

past. A selection of over 250 photographs

and illustrations outlines the evolution of

British bridges and highlights the

significance of key architectural examples

that will be appreciated by both experts

and students.

Organised by construction material, the

story begins with ancient stone clappers,

medieval packhorse and masonic arches,

and then traces bridge development in

timber, brick, iron and steel. The middle

section looks at the evolution of suspension

and cable stay bridges, reinforced and

pre-stressed concrete bridges and viaducts.

The final part deals with the often neglected

topics of bridge parapets and bridge

lighting.