Doxey Bridge

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Doxey Bridge is currently (Sept 2008) being rebuilt (at a cost over £400,000) and there has been some comments in the press regarding its past.

If anyone can add to the history of the Bridge, especially with regard to the 'Key Stone' or if you have any pictures of the bridge the webmaster would be pleased to incorporate them into this page. (contact webmaster@doxeyca.org.uk or ring Iain on Stafford 607 771)

History of Bridge
'1681' Keystone
Known Facts
Views of Bridge
Plans of New Bridge
Work in Progress

History

Doxey is connected to the outside world by two bridges, the railway bridge approaching Stafford and 'Doxey Bridge' over Doxey Brook on the road to Derrington just before Aston Bank Farm and the M6 Motorway.
Until about 1890 there was a ford at this point with a wooden footbridge about 100m south which connected the two farms (Astonbank and Brook House). This appears on the 1881 map but has disappeared by 1901.

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The '1681' Keystone

When the Bridge was widened and re-decked in 1994 a stone was removed from the old structure which read :
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In SCC storage

"Doxey Bridge
Erected A.D.

1681"
(looks like 1661
now !)

In the New Bridge

This is strange since there is no evidence for any bridge existing before about 1890. The inscription on the stone peculiar since the first two lines are neatly carved but the date is very uneven and in a completely different style.

Two thoughts !

- The Broad Eye Bridge (near the Mill) used to be referred to as 'Doxey Bridge'. In the late 19th century (1860-1880)the original sandstone construction was demolished and replaced with the current steel bridge.

- '1681' is '1891' upside down !

County Council historians and archeologists are currently examining the stone looking for any additional information.

(Jan 2009)

These seems to be agreement that the 1691 date is completely false but no-one had any real idea where it came from. The carving of the date is very crude.

The stone has now been replaced in the footings of the bridge but without any grand unveiling as was originally planned. There is no explanation so the confusion will continue.
nb. The bad carving and the way the is set now makes the date look like 1661 !

We now know the bridge was already built by 1891 (we have a 1891 reference to it being built 'a few years ago') - research continues....

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Known facts about the bridge

Built between 1881 and 1901 (OS maps)

- 1935 - New water main passes under bridge, defective girder found.

Repaired by Keays of Birmingham

- 1938 - Repairs required (done by Staffs County Council (SCC) labour ?)
- 1949 - Re-painting required
- 1950 - Insurance claim (drum of paint fell into brook)
- 1955 - Minor repairs
- 1960s - M6 built - bridge unchanged - road alignments changed
- 1974 - Seighford Parish Council (SPC) request widening/footpath
- 1979 - Railings require repair - safety concerns by School
- 1981-89 SPC continue to ask for changes. SCC continue to look at costs.
- 1994 - Bridge widened and re-decked - 'keystone' removed. No footpath on Doxey side
- 1996 - Footpath & steps built on Doxey side
- 2008 - Bridge replaced

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Various Views of the bridge

	From East	From West	Footpath (created 1996)
Circa 1990
2008

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The New Bridge

Plan of the New Bridge Below is the plan of the new bridge courtesy of Staffs County Council. There will be a new footpath from Doxey Fields to the entrance to the motorway services. During the construction of the bridge there will be a temporary footbridge built over Doxey Brook. A full size .pdf of these plans can be viewed by clicking here.

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Down with the Old - Up with the New

	Well it was going to start sometime. But it will be 13 weeks and there will be delays ! (it was 13 weeks almost to the day!)
Footpath as it was(7/9)	Cutting the new(8/9)	New Path(9/9)
Ready to widen(10/9)	The 1994 bridge base (4 steel sections)(20/9)	Where the temporary footbridge goes(8/9)
Reusing part of the old.(26/9)	A few tubes added(26/9)	A perfect fit ! (26/9)
Last section ready to go (1890 Bridge base left)(26/9)	.. and then there were none ..(26/9)	The water main that had to be cut ..(24/9)
The Victorian engineering that was still there.(1/10)	.. and all that was left was the BT cables(4/10)	The new (temporary) footbridge.(26/9)

New Girders in position(2/11)	Fibreglass(?) base - ready for concrete (8/11)	Concrete laid(25/11)
First tarmac layer(3/12)	Almost ready(7/12)	Open if not finished (9/12)
Original foundations still there(7/12)	The stone's back...(28/12)	.. but it's difficult to read(28/12)