Stockport's Heritage: The Widest Bridge in the Country?

Stockport's Heritage: The Widest Bridge in the Country?



Or, in old money, this bridge is 21.658 chains wide.

The Widest Bridge in the Country?

Does Stockport have the widest bridge in the country or maybe even the world.
In 1940 the new Merseyway Bridge was opened. It was a road that covered the river and stretched from Lancashire Bridge in the east to the Bear Pit in the west.

 For many years Rochdale have claimed that they had the widest bridge in Europe but this was disputed by the Stockport Heritage Trust.

As Rochdale have now uncovered their river they have no more claim to the title and the Heritage Trust intend throwing down the gauntlet to challenge any other claims.

On Sunday 22nd Nov. at 10am, a group of Trust members gathered at the newly revealed Lancashire Bridge and measured the length of the Merseyway Bridge.

It measured 435.7 meters, can any town better that?

Stockport Heritage Magazine in the Shops NOW

The winter 2015 issue of the Stockport Heritage Magazine is in the shops now !!
It contains articles about -

Stockport's invasion by the Vikings.
Archeology, architecture and ale.
Historic Inn's bicentenary.
Redrock development.
Hotbed of revolution.
Wilfred's war.
Moving our market.
Offerton's history man
In the shadows of Houdsworth Mill.
and many more stories and letters.

If you cannot find a copy in the shops, look on the Heritage Magazine website.

Open Day at the Bridgefield Dig

Manchester Archeology unit have been exploring the past life of Stockport's back-to-back Georgian housing, around what used to be Bridgefield St. Heaton Norris.

 The open day last Saturday allowed Stopfordians to view what has been uncovered of cellar dwellings with fireplaces where families would have lived in dire conditions.

The cellar of the Three Tuns Inn, that stood on the corner of Hatton St. and Bridgefield St., was also clearly visible.

 As was the toilet block that would have serve many families and stood in a central courtyard.

 A very old cobbled surface was also uncovered that predates the stone sets which we are used to seeing as an old road surface.

Items that have been found include Victorian bottles, broken pottery and the usual discarded shoes.
Shoes are an interesting addition to old superstitions. They were tied to the back of wedding cars for luck as well as often being walled up in chimneys of new buildings also for luck.

Could some of these shoes have been found in  chimneys when the houses were demolished?or were they just too worn to be taken away when the inhabitants left.