Galton Bridge

Galton Bridge (grid reference SP015894) is a canal bridge in Smethwick, West Midlands, England built by Thomas Telford in 1829. It spans Telford's Birmingham Canal Navigations New Main Line carrying Roebuck Lane. When it was constructed, its single span of 151 feet (46 metres) was the highest in the world (the Menai Suspension Bridge was longest). Originally a road bridge it is now restricted to pedestrians. It is a Grade I listed building, and lends its name to the adjacent Smethwick Galton Bridge railway station.

Galton Bridge and the modern Galton Tunnel

It is similar to Holt Fleet Bridge, Telford's Grade II listed bridge over the River Severn at Holt in Worcestershire and was named after Samuel Galton, a member of the Lunar Society. It was cast by Horseley Ironworks.

Details of Galton Bridge
  • Drawing from Atlas to the Life of Thomas Telford, Civil Engineer containing eighty-three copper plates, illustrative of his professional labours, 1838.
  • Galton Bridge from the canal tunnel, showing the railway bridge.
  • One of several light fittings on the bridge.
  • 1905 painting by Edward Richard Taylor

See also
  • Galton Bridge at Structurae
  • Photographs of the bridge today at the Wayback Machine (archived 8 February 2007)
  • Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1214833)". National Heritage List for England.
  • Entry on Sandwell listed building register
  • Old map (Staffordshire) 1890


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