Plymothian Bridges - Number 4

I was not quite sure whether to count this as 1 bridge or 2. I could have also have counted the older road bridge the end of which is clearly visible, and also a small pedestrian bridge which joins the footpath along the old railway to the road bridge. The road bridge itself also includes two crossings across rail tracks - one still in use, the other closed off and tracks removed. I felt it was probably easier to lump them all in together for now!

There is quite a complex history to the whole area when it comes to the railway tracks here which one day I hope to go into in more detail. A good potted history of the bridges here can be found on the Plymouth Data site here.

I have taken plenty of photos around these bridges many of which are now in another Tabblo here.

New Development planned

News from This is Plymouth today
Two of the South West's best known firms are joining forces for a £50million development that will further open up Plymouth's waterfront at Sutton Harbour.Sutton Harbour Holdings and Redruth-based Rowe Property Developments are teaming up to pursue a joint planning application to develop a site near Shepherd's Wharf, at Sutton Harbour.It is estimated that the massive scheme would have commercial accommodation on its ground, and possibly first, floors, with flats on the remaining floors. It will also give the public access to another section of the harbour as part of the Sutton Harbour Heritage Trail, which will take tourists and Plymouth people around the Barbican area showing them sites of historical interest.
The scheme involves Rowe's brownfield site of just over an acre next to the Premier Travel Inn, which was developed by a Rowe Group subsidiary in 2003.It also encompasses the half-acre Sutton Harbour Holdings site fronting Sutton Road, currently being operated on a temporary basis as a fire station.

As I have said this is an extremely interesting area for all sorts of reasons so it is good to see it being opened up, although I do wonder how much of the 'history' will be left by the time they have finnished. I am aiming to get down there shortly to get a few photos in!

The image below is the view on Google Earth with the yellow shaded area being roughly where the development appears to be taking place.


The Plymouth City Council web site has a policy guide to its aims in this area which do give some hope!















A good web page to look at covering this whole area is the Plymouth data page for Sutton Harbour. This will give you a flavour of why I am so interested in the place!

St Levan Road Bridge(s)

We start off with this large bridge which carries the main railway line through Plymouth and across the St Leven Valley. Behind me as I stand to take this photo is the St Levens Gate entrance to the Dockyard. A close up view showing the construction detail of the bridge is below:


Its certainly an unusual construction design. I am not sure why the central pillar has the middle oval bricked in when all the other pillars have the original oval left. I am still trying to find out some of the history of this bridge so may well come back to it at a later date.
It was not always the only railway bridge over the St Leven valley though. The next picture taken in 1981 from Cyberheritage shows the old stone viaduct which was always the better looking, more graceful bridge.

Very little of this remains now although you can still see clues either side of the Valley that a railway once existed. The main remnant is the stone base of one of the pillars with this plate which was added when the bridge was demolished in 1987. A sad end to a once proud bridge and a major transport landmark in Plymouth.

The Plymouth Data site has a bit more detail on some of the railway history of this are included on this page which makes interesting reading. Some time soon I will come back to this area and start looking in more detail at the old railway that has been lost.
didbygraham