1889 The final section of the Mile Straight (The Corporation's Flood Prevention Scheme) is being completed where it goes pass the now Castle Gardens and under the new West Bridge

West Bridge was the place where ancient man could cross the River Soar valley because of the geological integrety of the river beds. There was probably a bridge here for 2000 years, plus. Simon De Beaumont built the first recorded bridge 'on' West Bridge in 1109 which survived, much repaired and altered, until 1840. Then a graceful cast iron single arch replaced it but this was too narrow so the current West Bridge was built in the late 1880's. But road transport eventually found this lacking so another was added from bland concrete in 1970.

Photograph taken by roger hutchinson and was added to the database on Sunday the 10th of December, 2006

This photo is one of 9 of West Bridge (Leicester) on the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - River Soar Navigation) [Previous | Next]