New pedestrian canal bridge at Crick Wharf
In time for the no-show Crick Boat Show!
SINCE the former Braunston Boat Show was moved in 2000 – to the new larger site offered by Crick Marina and its neighbouring farmer – there has been the health and safety issue of the dramatically increased number of pedestrians and vehicles using the old small canal bridge at the nearby Crick Wharf, which during the event provided the main access route to the site.
The bridge had only the narrowest of pavements for the pedestrians, who felt they were taking their lives in their hands in using it. The bridge therefore discouraged visitors to the show from cycling to it, or walking up across the canal to the village to use its shops, pubs and an Indian restaurant. In addition, traffic on the road was increasing generally, added to by the expansion of Crick Marina to its present size of 270 boats.
In response to much lobbying over a number of years, Northamptonshire County Council finally was able to allocate funds to build a pedestrian bridge over the canal, to lie alongside the existing one. Nearing completion, it ironically would have been ready in good time for this year’s now cancelled Crick Boat Show.
Regardless of its disappointing timing for completion, the bridge under construction has already received a pleasing response – both from Crick village and canal users. It is seen as well designed in steel, in such a way that its curved shape and balustrades carry echoes of the early 19th century Horseley Iron Works cast-iron canal bridges, examples of which can be found at Braunston, on the North Oxford Canal, Coventry, Birmingham and elsewhere.
They were the first mass-produced cast-iron bridges in the world, and 200 years later, they form an important part of our canal heritage.
Canal author Anthony Burton – one of the leading authorities on waterways heritage, including bridges – is full of praise: “It is good to see a modern bridge that respects its environment and fits in so well with the old. That gentle curve makes all the difference.”
User friendly
Villagers have spoken well of the bridge as being very user and disabled-friendly – low sloping, with inner grab rails to assist mobility. It is also seen as good for young children and giving plenty of room for bicycles and wheelchairs to pass. And it will considerably improve villager access to the canal towpath and the cafe facilities at Crick Wharf.
But for some, the most pleasing thing of all will be to be able to stand and stare in safety and enjoy the view from the bridge of the old Crick Wharf – one of very few canal wharfs that survive much as they were in the working days – and with it the variety of life on the canal.
Richard Parry, chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, has also welcomed the new bridge, but is keen to give praise where praise is due. “The bridge at Crick was actually delivered by Northamptonshire County Council, with our planners and third party works engineers supporting the scheme in terms of development and delivery.”
Attention now turns to that other unfriendly canal bridge, the high 1965built Ladder Bridge across the eastern entrance to Braunston Marina, which bars all but the most agile, and is now the only barrier to wheelchairs on the Grand Union Canal between London and Birmingham.
The late Peter Andrews, an enthusiastic Braunston canal walker, died in 2018, leaving a very generous residue donation in his will to the Canal & River Trust, of what was finally £164,400. The money was to be used to replace the Ladder Bridge – which he used to have to carry his ageing dog over – with one that was well designed and pram and disabled-friendly. With the agreement of the trust, it was to be named Peter’s Bridge.
The scheme is going well in the design and development stage – with nothing yet announced. Peter Andrews’ co-executor and trustee John Harding said he would be very happy to see a bridge that was like the new one at Crick. Work is planned to start in March 2021, with completion ready for next year’s Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally at the end of June – this year’s rally, like this year’s Crick Boat Show, has had to be cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions. So both these major canal events in 2021 will be celebrating with their new bridges.
Anthony Burton’s new book Britain’s Canals – co-authored with Derek Pratt, and subtitled Exploring their architectural and engineering wonders – will be reviewed by Tim Coghlan in the next edition of Towpath Talk.