Heritage award for transporter bridge

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THE famous Warrington Transporter Bridge – a 100-year-old structure built by the same civil engineering company as the Forth Bridge and London’s Tower Bridge – has been honoured by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).

ICE North West presented its Special Heritage Award to representatives of Friends of Warrington Transporter Bridge and Warrington Borough Council  in Bank Park, Warrington.

ICE which celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2018, is a leading UK professional body established by Royal Charter and currently representing 90,000 civil engineers worldwide, including many working for Warrington-based concerns.

John Gatheral, North West chairman said: “This is only the second time the Institution of Civil Engineers North West has conferred an award for civil engineering heritage, and Warrington’s Transporter Bridge thoroughly deserves the accolade.

“It’s a remarkable structure, and there are only a few of them left in the world. I know Warrington is proud to have such a landmark, it’s a 103-metre long monument to Warrington’s heritage as one of the great industrial towns of North West England.”

Margaret Ingham, chairman of the Friends of Warrington Transporter Bridge  said “Our group has only been going for 18 months and we are most encouraged that this prestigious organisation recognises the value of our rail transporter bridge. We are working with Warrington Borough Council to ensure that it is not forgotten and we have nearly 1100 followers on Facebook and over 300 members backing us up.”
Picture shows Cllr Faisal Rashid, Mayor of Warrington with Margaret Ingham and John Gatheral.

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The historic transporter bridge – picture Paul Jackson

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The historic transporter bridge – Picture Paul Jackson


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  1. Well done Margaret Ingram and all the members and Friends of Warrington Transporter Bridge for your collective efforts in getting the recognition for this remaining piece of heritage in the town. Reading some of the “official” comments on what to do with the bridge, in another posting elsewhere in WW, makes you appreciate the FoWTB efforts all the more. And sadly highlights the totally negative attitude towards the town’s heritage that pervades the corridors of power – and has done – for years.

    • The Save Warrington Transporter Team have some well. I do hope someone somewhere will tell the Council that they can attach renewable engergy technology to this bridge and convert it to a footbridge and cycleway with the support from the chemical plant of the PROW is closed through thier site and psrk and ride created. The Council could then negotiate the land beside the old B&Q for a new multi stotey car park. A crossing point is needed for the town and a moveable bridge barriage with solar panels and flood defence capacity at this bridge would solve alot of local problems. It would cost a lot less than £19 million that is the price tag for new bridge at Chester Road to no where fast.

  2. Excellent news and a huge well done to Margaret Ingram and the other members of the FoWTB who have worked so hard in making people aware of the Transporter Bridge and it’s history and importance and also hopefully now securing its future too.
    It does seem slightly wrong that the award was also presented to WBC…after all they are the ones who have simply left it for years to fall into a state of disrepair and who have showed very little interest in it at all until Margaret and the FoWTB group set up determined to do something about it. At least WBC seem to be on board now though….. maybe

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