List of crossings of the River Derwent, Derbyshire

This is a list of crossings of the Derbyshire Derwent, the principal river of Derbyshire in the Midlands of England.

Listed in the table are those crossings that have been identified from the first formal crossing at the packhorse bridge at Slippery Stones, in the upper Derwent valley, continuing through the Derwent Valley Mills heritage site to Derby, to the last crossing near Church Wilne upstream of Derwent Mouth where the Derwent meets the River Trent.[1]

Described by Defoe in 1726 as a "fury of a river" the Derwent could only be forded at a number of particular locations, which could still be impassable during winter floods.[2] Wooden bridges provided for a more reliable crossing, but were easily damaged by those same floods. The wooden bridge at Leadmill was destroyed before it was completed in the early 1700s.[3] Toad-Moor Bridge near Ambergate was rebuilt as Halfpenny Bridge by Francis Hurt in 1792, after being swept away in a flood of 1791. In the Candlemas flood of February 1795, the bridges at Belper and Whatstandwell were washed away, but were subsequently rebuilt soon after.[4][5]

Glover in his History of the County of Derby of 1829 noted that there were a number of bridges, fords and a ferry across the Derwent. There were fords at Wilne Mills, Alvaston, Little Eaton and Ambaston, and a ferry at Matlock Bath. Wooden bridges were mentioned at Wilne Mills, Borrowash Mills and Exeter Bridge, downstream of which was a long wooden bridge for canal towing horses. Tolls were levied at Wilne Mills, Darley Abbey, and Milford, where there was also a chain-bridge for mill workers. He also recorded a number of county bridges and stone-arched bridges the majority of which are now listed structures, and in some cases scheduled monuments. A number of these bridges were built by the local industrial families of the Derwent valley, including those of Hurt, Strutt and Evans.[4]

Crossings

Key to heritage status

Status	Criteria[6]
I	Grade I listed. Bridge of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important
II*	Grade II* listed. Particularly important bridge of more than special interest
II	Grade II listed. Bridge of national importance and special interest
SM	Scheduled Monument. Nationally important archaeological bridge.

River order	Name	Image	Location Coordinates	Carries	Date	Heritage status	Notes
1	Slippery Stones packhorse bridge		Hope Woodlands 53.45260°N 1.74661°W	Footpath	1672 (1959)	II	A 17th century packhorse bridge that was relocated from Derwent village[7][8]
2	Howden Dam		Howden Reservoir 53.43333°N 1.75000°W	–	1912	II	For information[9]
3	Derwent Dam		Derwent Reservoir 53.40503°N 1.74167°W	–	1916	II	For information[9]
4	Fairholmes Bridge		Derwent Reservoir 53.40260°N 1.74219°W	Derwent Lane		-	Stone arch bridge[10]
5	Ashopton Viaduct		Ladybower Reservoir 53.37465°N 1.71147°W	A57	1943	-	Concrete viaduct[10]
6	Ladybower Dam		Ladybower Reservoir 53.3657°N 1.7011°W	Footpath	1943	-	Footway along dam wall[11]
7	Yorkshire Bridge		Yorkshire Bridge 53.36123°N 1.70386°W	Lydgate Lane	1800s	II	Stone arch bridge[11][12]
8	Bamford Mill footbridge		Bamford 53.34659°N 1.69411°W	Footpath		-	Wooden footbridge at Bamford Mill[13]
9	Water Lane bridge		Bamford 53.34284°N 1.69273°W	Water Lane		-	Minor road bridge[13]
10	Railway bridge		Bamford 53.34014°N 1.69230°W	Hope Valley line		-	Rail bridge[13]
11	Mytham Bridge		Bamford 53.33917°N 1.69388°W	A6187		-	Stone arch bridge with adjacent footbridge[13]
12	Hathersage stepping stones		Hathersage 53.33048°N 1.67540°W	Footpath		-	Between Offerton and Hathersage[14]
13	Leadmill Bridge		Hathersage 53.32187°N 1.65102°W	B6001	18th century	II	Stone arch bridge – widened in 1928[14][15]
14	Grindleford Bridge		Grindleford 53.29675°N 1.63415°W	B6251		II & SM	Stone arch bridge[16][17]
15	Froggatt Bridge		Froggatt 53.28116°N 1.63585°W	Minor Road	19th century	SM	Stone arch bridge[16][18]
16	Froggatt New Bridge		Froggatt 53.27445°N 1.63565°W	A625		-	Stone arch bridge[16]
17	Calver Bridge		Calver 53.26657°N 1.63146°W	Minor Road	19th century	II*	Triple arched stone bridge[16][19]
18	Calver Bridge (A623)		Calver 53.26625°N 1.63206°W	A623	1974	-	Modern bridge[16]
19	Baslow Bridge		Baslow 53.24775°N 1.62527°W	Minor road	1608	I & SM	Stone arch bridge with toll booth[20][21]
20	Devonshire Bridge		Baslow 53.24604°N 1.62337°W	A619	1925	-	Bakewell Road bridge[20]
21	Chatsworth Park Bridge		Chatsworth 53.22800°N 1.61622°W	Minor road	1774	I	Designed by James Paine, providing access to Chatsworth House[20][22]
22	One Arch Bridge		Chatsworth 53.21241°N 1.61106°W	B6012	1760	II* & SM	Also designed by James Paine, linking Edensor to Beeley[23][24]
23	Rowsley Viaduct		Rowsley 53.19038°N 1.61842°W	Unused	1862	-	Former railway viaduct[25]
24	Rowsley Bridge		Rowsley 53.18957°N 1.61720°W	A6	15th century	II* & SM	Stone arch bridge widened 1926[26][27]
25	Darley Bridge		Darley Bridge 53.15508°N 1.59697°W	B5057	15th century	II* & SM	Stone arch bridge[28][29]
26	Peak Rail bridge		Matlock 53.14200°N 1.56899°W	Peak Rail		-	Bridge 35[30]
27	Derwent Way bridge		Matlock 53.14074°N 1.56464°W	A6	2007	-	Modern A6 bridge[31]
28	Matlock Bridge		Matlock 53.13788°N 1.55622°W	Former A6 route restored and widened 1904	15th century	II* & SM	Stone arch bridge[32][33]
29	Hall Leys Park footbridge		Matlock 53.13659°N 1.55414°W	Footpath		-	The gateway to the bridge shows flood heights in 1960 and 1965[32]
30	Railway bridge		Matlock 53.13486°N 1.55643°W	Derwent Valley Line		-	Rail bridge[32]
31	Footbridge		Matlock 53.13333°N 1.55684°W	Footpath		-	Dale road to Pic Tor[32]
32	Footbridge		Matlock Bath 53.12600°N 1.55975°W	Footpath		-	Dale road to High Tor[32]
33	Footbridge		Matlock Bath 53.12386°N 1.55791°W	Footpath		-	Dale Road to cable car[32]
34	Matlock Bath Bridge		Matlock Bath 53.12189°N 1.55786°W	Access road		-	Access road to Station Yard[32]
35	Jubilee Bridge, Matlock Bath		Matlock Bath 53.12142°N 1.56154°W	Footpath	1887	-	Footbridge[32]
36	Derwent Gardens footbridge		Matlock Bath 53.11752°N 1.55990°W	Footpath	1969	-	Modern footbridge linking Derwent Gardens to Lovers Walk; site of earlier Matlock ferry[32]
37	Cromford Bridge		Cromford 53.11101°N 1.55310°W	Mill Road	15th century	II* & SM	Stone arch bridge[34][35]
38	Cromford railway bridge		Cromford 53.11206°N 1.54809°W	Derwent Valley Line		-	Rail bridge[34]
39	Access bridge (High peak junction)		High Peak Junction 53.10074°N 1.53171°W	Access road		-	Access to sewage works[34]
40	Footbridge		High Peak Junction 53.10060°N 1.53127°W	Footpath		-	High Peak Junction[34]
41	Leawood railway bridge		High Peak Junction 53.09778°N 1.52882°W	Derwent Valley Line		-	Rail bridge[34]
42	Wigwell Aqueduct		High Peak Junction 53.09693°N 1.52983°W	Cromford Canal	1790s	SM	Partially collapsed during construction; rebuilt at William Jessop's own expense[34][36]
43	Railway bridge		High Peak Junction 53.09595°N 1.52191°W	Derwent Valley Line		-	Rail bridge[37]
44	Homesford footbridge		Whatstandwell 53.09447°N 1.51415°W	Footpath		-	Combined foot and pipe bridge[37]
45	Railway bridge		Whatstandwell 53.08979°N 1.50692°W	Derwent Valley Line		-	Rail bridge[37]
46	Whatstandwell Bridge		Whatstandwell 53.08549°N 1.50704°W	A6	1796	II	Stone arch bridge[37][38]
47	Oak Hurst mills bridge		Ambergate 53.06674°N 1.49193°W	Access road		-	Access bridge[39]
48	Halfpenny Bridge		Ambergate 53.05942°N 1.48389°W	Holly Lane	1792	II	Also known as Toad-Moor bridge, built as a toll bridge by Francis Hurt[39][40]
49	Derwent Viaduct		Ambergate 53.05672°N 1.48288°W	Midland Main Line	1840	II*	Skewed rail bridge[39][41]
50	Railway bridge		Belper 53.0458°N 1.4849°W	Midland Main Line		-	Rail bridge[42]
51	Railway bridge		Belper 53.0321°N 1.4830°W	Midland Main Line		-	Rail bridge[42]
52	Belper Bridge		Belper 53.02936°N 1.48725°W	Bridge Foot	1798	II	Tripled arched bridge[42][43]
53	Belper Meadows footbridge		Belper 53.02505°N 1.49173°W	Footpath		-	Access bridge[42]
54	Belper sewage works bridge		Belper 53.01619°N 1.48501°W	Access road		-	Access bridge[42]
55	Swainsley Railway bridge		Belper 53.01125°N 1.48433°W	Midland Main Line		-	Steel rail bridge[42]
56	Milford Bridge		Milford 53.00231°N 1.47840°W	A6	1790	II	Stone arch bridge[44]
57	Milford footbridge		Milford 53.00096°N 1.47936°W	Footpath		-	Garden centre access[44][45]
58	Moscow Farm bridge		Milford 52.99587°N 1.48139°W	Access road		-	Access bridge[44]
59	Duffield Church Bridge		Duffield 52.98290°N 1.47961°W	Makeney Road	Probable 16th century	II & SM	Stone arch bridge[44][46]
60	Burley Railway Bridge		Little Eaton 52.96981°N 1.47143°W	Midland Main Line		-	Rail bridge[47]
61	Allestree Ford Bridge		Allestree 52.95760°N 1.46619°W	Ford Lane		-	Former ford at this point[47]
62	Allestree A38 Bridge		Allestree 52.95568°N 1.46759°W	Abbey Hill		-	Dual carriageway bridge[47]
63	Darley Abbey toll bridge		Darley Abbey 52.94332°N 1.47584°W	Haslams Lane		-	Toll bridge[47]
64	Handyside Bridge		Derby 52.93092°N 1.47747°W	Footpath	1878	II	Former GNR railway bridge[48][49]
65	St Marys Bridge		Derby 52.92716°N 1.47519°W	Minor Road	1793	II* & SM	Designed by Thomas Harrison, it replaced an earlier medieval bridge; adjacent is St Mary's Bridge Chapel.[48][50]
66	Causey Bridge		Derby 52.92667°N 1.47521°W	Saint Alkmunds Way	1972	-	Dual carriageway bridge[48]
67	Cathedral Green Footbridge		Derby 52.92525°N 1.47522°W	Footpath	2009	-	Swing bridge[51]
68	Exeter Bridge		Derby 52.92397°N 1.47382°W	Derwent Street	1929	-	1920s road bridge, replaced earlier wooden bridge[48]
69	Holmes Bridge		Derby 52.92343°N 1.46968°W	A601	1972	-	Dual carriageway bridge[48]
70	Bass Recreation Ground footbridge		Derby 52.92139°N 1.46592°W	Footpath		-	Modern footbridge[48]
71	Derwent Bridge		Derby 52.91952°N 1.46376°W	Midland Main Line	1840	II	Skewed rail bridge, also known as Five Arches[48][52]
72	Derwent Parade bridge		Pride Park 52.91761°N 1.44309°W	Derwent Parade		-	Modern road bridge[48]
73	Railway bridge Pride Park		Pride Park 52.91104°N 1.44067°W	Midland Main Line		-	Midland Main Line[48]
74	Raynesway Bridge		Derby 52.90467°N 1.43049°W	A5111	1938	-	A5111[53]
75	Waste Incinerator bridge		Derby 52.90440°N 1.42760°W	Access road		-	Access to incinerator[53]
76	Fernhook Avenue bridge		Derby 52.90280°N 1.41177°W	Access road	2009	-	Access to Derby commercial park[54]
77	Access bridge		Borrowash 52.90161°N 1.39012°W	Access road		-	Borrowash[55]
78	Borrowash Bridge		Borrowash 52.90162°N 1.38411°W	B5010		-	Links Borrowash to Elvaston[55]
79	Ambaston Ford		Ambaston 52.89325°N 1.36010°W	Disused		-	Disused ford between Ambaston and Nooning Lane[55]
80	Wilne footbridge		Church Wilne 52.87868°N 1.32974°W	Footpath	1960s	-	Replaced earlier toll bridge upstream at Wilne mills[56]
81	Derwent Mouth		Great Wilne 52.87291°N 1.31980°W	–		-	Confluence with the Trent[56]

Bibliography

• Philip's (1997). Street Atlas – Derbyshire. Philip's. ISBN 0-540-06138-7.
• Glover, Stephen (1829). Noble, Thomas (ed.). The History of the County of Derby. Mozley.
• Cooper, Brian (1983). Transformation of a Valley: The Derbyshire Derwent (New, Scarthin 1997 Reprint ed.). London: Heinemann. ISBN 0-907758-17-7.

References

1. Philip's 1997, pp. 14–235.
2. Cooper 1983, p. 166.
3. Cooper 1983, p. 167.
4. Glover 1829, p. 259.
5. Philosophical Magazine, Comprehending the Various Branches of Science, the Liberal and Fine Arts, Agriculture, Manifactures, and Commerce. 1812. pp. 206–.
6. Listed Buildings, English Heritage, archived from the original on 27 December 2012, retrieved 22 April 2011
7. Philip's 1997, p. 14.
8. Historic England. "Slippery Stones (1087992)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
9. Philip's 1997, p. 21.
10. Philip's 1997, p. 30.
11. Philip's 1997, p. 39.
12. Historic England. "Yorkshire Bridge (1087856)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
13. Philip's 1997, p. 40.
14. Philip's 1997, p. 52.
15. Historic England. "Leadmill Bridge (1109800)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
16. Philip's 1997, p. 72.
17. Historic England. "Grindleford Bridge (1007059)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
18. Historic England. "Froggatt Bridge (1007056)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
19. Historic England. "Calver Bridge (1088212)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
20. Philip's 1997, p. 91.
21. Historic England. "Baslow Bridge (1088195)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
22. Historic England. "Chatsworth Park Bridge (1049093)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
23. Philip's 1997, p. 111.
24. Historic England. "One Arch Bridge (1052356)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
25. Philip's 1997, p. 110.
26. Philip's 1997, p. 126.
27. Historic England. "Rowsley Bridge (1263843)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
28. Philip's 1997, p. 127.
29. Historic England. "Darley Bridge (1248041)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
30. Philip's 1997, p. 142.
31. Roberts, Alan (15 August 2012). Matlock & Matlock Bath Through Time. Amberley Publishing Limited. pp. 84–. ISBN 978-1-4456-2948-3.
32. Philip's 1997, p. 143.
33. Historic England. "Matlock Bridge (1247890)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
34. Philip's 1997, p. 155.
35. Historic England. "Cromford Bridge (1263846)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
36. Historic England. "Wigwell Aqueduct (1007040)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
37. Philip's 1997, p. 156.
38. Historic England. "Whatstandwell Bridge (1335314)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
39. Philip's 1997, p. 167.
40. Historic England. "Halfpenny Bridge (1109020)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
41. Historic England. "Derwent Viaduct (1417625)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
42. Philip's 1997, p. 178.
43. Historic England. "Belper Bridge (1087394)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
44. Philip's 1997, p. 191.
45. Historic England. "Milford Bridge (1099189)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
46. Historic England. "Duffield Church Bridge (1158235)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
47. Philip's 1997, p. 205.
48. Philip's 1997, p. 219.
49. Historic England. "Handyside Bridge (1215438)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
50. Historic England. "St Marys Bridge (1215897)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
51. "New bridge for Derby". BBC. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
52. Historic England. "Derwent Bridge (1417807)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
53. Philip's 1997, p. 220.
54. "New Raynesway bridge". Cass Hayward. 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
55. Philip's 1997, p. 234.
56. Philip's 1997, p. 235.

External links