A summer evening by the Basingstoke Canal

The bridge seen here is the Guildford Road (B3012) Bridge. The original Pinkerton canal bridge was constructed towards the end of the 18th century (around 1790) when the canal was built. It was one of many bridges built using the 100 foot line technique which produces a curved ellipsoidal shape.

Sometime during the first half of the 20th century the brick arch barrel was demolished by the army and replaced with steel RSJs in an attempt to 'strengthen' the bridge. In the long term this seriously weakened the bridge, which thus had to be given a 3 tonne weight restriction. It also had to have a width restriction of 6ft 6ins imposed on it.

Many of the original brick-arch bridges on the canal were built using this technique.

The bridge works were funded by the Department of Transportation Supplementary Grant and formed part of Surrey County Council's continuing bridge strengthening programme. The contract, awarded to Coffey Construction, was for a 24 week period for completion in April 1997. The reconstruction project was under the direction of SCC's Engineering Consultancy Division.

Initial design concepts by Surrey County Council (SCC) for a replacement bridge, including a dual carriageway, were for a modern, utilitarian structure to take vehicles up to 40 tonnes. But the local community objected vehemently to SCC’s design proposals which were considered to be out of keeping in a conservation area. This included the Canal Society (SHCS) which wanted the replacement to reflect the canal’s heritage. SHCS's Special Projects Manager, produced a Report which comprised a critical analysis of SCC's proposal togerther with a recommended counter proposal. Finally, after six sets of drawings had been rejected, the civil engineer came up with a structure combining modern technology with a traditional design.

In the new design the load bearing arch is constructed of reinforced concrete, faced with Ockley bricks, Sarsen stone and hand-made capping bricks surmounting the parapets to replicate John Pinkerton's original design built 200 years ago. The engineers even used the principle of Pinkerton’s 100ft line to re-create the identical vertical and horizontal ellipses which, apart from being visually pleasing, help give the bridge strength.
Before work could start the basin either side had to be dammed off and dewatered. During this time the adjacent winding hole was dredged and the surrounding area later landscaped.

During reconstruction, with the road closed and the canal closed and dewatered at this section, the arch was slightly lowered and the canal re-aligned to maintain headroom clearance for barges and narrowboats. The re-inforced concrete arch is faced with brick and stonework, thus a combination of modern methods and traditional workmanship allows the final appearance to replicate the original Pinkerton design. Although the brick facings on the underside of the arch are not full-depth bricks, they serve to hide the concrete structure and give a pleasing traditional character to the bridge. The half-round bricks which form the capping for the parapets were hand-made specially for this project. Sarson stone, recovered during the canal excavations, has been used in the abutments and wing walls. An additional supply of Sarsen stone was donated by the Ministry of Defence for use in the reconstruction of the bridge. Electricity, gas, water and other services were incorporated within the footpath, thus making unnecessary the unsightly pipes previously carried adjacent to the bridge.

The reconstructed bridge was also made wider to accomodate modern traffic, which is automatically controlled by sensor-operated lights. Also known as Kings Head Bridge, the alternative name is due to the Kings Head public house close by. It is not a true canal pub, but has taken advantage of its position to cater for canal users.

On 16 June 1997 the bridge was formally re-opened by Cllr David Davis, Chairman of the County Environment Committee (SCC). The plaque on the bridge parapet to commemorate the reconstruction.

Since its reconstruction, many people have remarked how beautiful this bridge is, which now is a worthy companion to the similarly reconstructed Mytchett Place Canal Bridge a short distance upstream.

www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk/brgrd.htm

Taken in: United Kingdom / England / Frimley (show map)

Taken on: June 25, 2009

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Camera:	Kodak EasyShare C743 Zoom
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