Derbyshire Guardian. Issue 24 : Page 1.
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• Bale Crocker • Rowan Dartington • Unified Perspective • The Miller Partnership
p.36
The bridge circa 1980, showing signs of decay. Breadsall and Ilkeston. Friar Gate station became popular as a point of departure for the Victorians to head for the east coast and seaside holidays in Skegness. The street of Friar Gate was, however, a very desirable residence, and the bridge was ornately designed to appease those
Friar Gate Bridge today, in need of some TLC. Derby’s historic Grade II listed Friar Gate Bridge could be restored if a bid for lottery funding is successful. Derby City Council have announced plans to bid for up to £900,000 of lottery cash to restore the structure that has become ‘a disgrace’ according to Alan Grimadell, chairman of Derby Civic Society. The council’s cabinet member responsible for regeneration, Cllr Martin Rawson, said the council would be applying to the Herit-
age Lottery Fund early next year. “I think it would be a high-profile project for the lottery fund and that it would stand a really good chance of success,” said Cllr Rawson. Mr Grimadell was unhappy that the bridge had been allowed to deteriorate into its present condition. “It’s important to the people
of Derby and should never have been left in this state,” he said, adding “The top of the bridge is full of weeds and trees. It’s a disgrace.” If successful, the lottery money would be used to refurbish the bridge to its former glory, but the cost of tree clearance and drainage work could push the cost up to £1 million. It has been suggested that the public could have access to the bridge, with possibly a carriage restaurant placed on the
bridge. Friar Gate Bridge was built to carry the western extension of the Great Northern Railway through Derby, by local engineer Andrew Handyside & Co, in 1878. The railway carried traffic from Burton to Ilkeston before connecting to the Great Northern mainline which ran from London to York. The railway entered Derby, from the west, through Mickleover to an extensive goods yard local to the, now derelict, Friar Gate Wharf building at an elevated level. The four-platform station was accessed, by stairs, on the west side of Friar Gate. From Friar Gate the railway was carried east by the bridge and a long-demolished series of brick arches, across Agard Street, towards
The bridge has two spans side-by-side.
BUEMI CONFIRMS EARLY PROMISE P62.
opposed to the railway. The decoration included one of the historic symbols of the town, the Buck In The Park. The bridge is, actually, two identical bridges, one each for the up and down lines and Bud Flanagan said it was the inspiration for the popular Flanagan and Allen song Underneath The Arches written by Flanagan on a visit to Derby in 1927. The final passenger train left Friar Gate for Nottingham at 10.10am on Saturday 5th September 1964, with the station officially closed two days later. The line closed to freight traffic on 4th September 1967 and the bridge soon began to show signs of decay. An action group began lobbying in the 1970s for restoration work on the bridge and in 1985 British Rail sold the structure to Derby City Council for £1 on the understanding that the council would maintain it. English Heritage have declared the Grade II listed bridge to be of “national importance”. Safety netting was added to the bridge in 2010 as a precautionary measure to prevent debris falling onto pedestrians or motorists, although Cllr Rawson did confirm that a structural survey had shown no issues for concern. “Structurally the bridge is sound,” he said. “The council has maintained that over the years, but I would like to go further and attract the funds to make it look the part as well.”