Monument record MDO19583 - New Ground bridge 1, Portland

Arched railway bridge carrying upper Merchants' Railway quarry branch over incline branch. Well built in stone, with date 1880 on stone over arch.

Arched railway bridge carrying upper Merchants' Railway quarry branch over incline branch. Well built in stone, with date 1880 on stone over arch. (1) Shown in published photographs (2-3). Digital archive Images of England description as follows: PORTLAND SY6873 NEW GROUND, Yeates 969-1/3/189 Bridge at SY 6924 7330 21/09/78 (Formerly Listed as: VERNE ROAD Four Bridges over former Merchant's Tramway SW of the Verne's S entrance) GV II Road bridge over former mineral tramway. Dated 1882. [Note: this is WRONG: it is 1880] Heavy squared rock-faced stone. Segmental arch to rusticated quoins and keystone on plain internal abutments to high offset plinth. Heavy square-edged weathered parapet, and short stopped pilaster ends. Inner face of parapet, to road, in dressed stone. North face has short curved and raked abutments. Roadway c 3m wide, parapets c 10m long. One of three close-set bridges over the former tramway taking stone from the quarries on Tophill to the harbour, and of interest as a reminder of the C19 industrial activity of the quarries on the island, when rail and tramways were an important aspect of the transport system. (4)

Record last edited

Aug 31 2007 3:36AM