Lady Wimborne Bridge 2.03

The Lady Wimborne Bridge is a bridge that brought the age of rail to the town of Wimborne in Dorset, England. Long heralded by the denizens of the medieval market town, pilgrims would camp under its ornate stone and cheer the advent of each steam train to pass overhead.It is a Grade II listed building.DesignSir John Guest, 1st Baronet of Dowlais (who was one of the greatest iron founders of the time, his ironworks being situated in Dowlais, South Wales) would only allow the railway to cross his drive if the bridge were constructed to the design of his architect. The bridge was designed and built by Charles Barry Jr., who was an English architect of the mid-late 19th century, and eldest son of Sir Charles Barry.HistoryThe bridge is named for Lady Cornelia Henrietta Maria Spencer-Churchill, wife of Ivor Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne.The bridge was opened on 14 February 1876 by the Mayor of Wimborne. The last train passed over the bridge on 3 May 1976, almost one hundred years to the day of its construction. (The information board states the last train to cross the bridge was in 1977)Although the railway is long gone, there is a footpath with steep steps that allows pedestrians to climb to the top, and follow a footpath to the river. An information board at the bridge gives many interesting facts about the structure.