Noteworthy Bridges in Sutton, St.Helens

Including Sutton Workhouse (New Street) Bridge, Bold Bridge,
Marshalls Cross Bridges and Bold Old Hall Bridge

Sutton Bridges Photo-Album | Slideshow Version

a) Sutton Workhouse / New Street Bridge

A grade 2 listed building, the road bridge in New Street in Sutton is over 175 years old, having been constructed in 1830. It was built as a result of the creation of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway and still serves this purpose today. It was originally known as Sutton Workhouse Bridge having been built adjacent to the old workhouse and crossed by Workhouse Lane.

New Street Bridge in Sutton, St Helens with train passing through
Sutton Workhouse / New Street bridge photographed from the A569 Marshall's Cross bridge

As the bridge has been listed it cannot be widened or have its angle of construction changed, which creates delays for motorists who want to cross it. Lea Green Station, located just 300 metres from the bridge, was built in 2000, (as a replacement for an earlier station), underlining the continuing importance of the line.

According to Henry Booth's 'An Account of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway' that was published in 1830, Sutton Workhouse Bridge (or Sutton Bridge as Booth called it) cost £470 8s 9d to build. Booth also stated that the bridge was:

                    •   Constructed from ashler (square-hewn stone)
                    •   Measures 26 feet 6" between the parapets over the arch
                    •   Measures 23 feet between the railway and centre of the arch
                    •   Measures 30 feet between the side walls under the arch
                    •   Supports a road over the bridge which is level

The description appended by the St Helens local authority to the bridge's listing status states:

Bridge. c.1830. Stephenson, for Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Rusticated stone. Round arch has radiating voussoirs and impost band. Flanking pilsater strips and curved retaining walls. Parapet on raised band. Cast iron plate with number 78 on west side. (O.S. GRID REF: 352230 392570)

New Street Bridge in Sutton, St Helens with car passing over

b) Marshalls Cross Bridge

Marshalls Cross Road Bridge in Sutton, St Helens with train passing under
Marshalls Cross bridges pictured from Sutton Workhouse (aka New Street) bridge

The second bridge in Sutton, St Helens which has listed status is the old bridge in Marshall's Cross Road adjacent to Lea Green station, Sherdley Park and the Bull and Dog public house. It's located just 200 yards from the Sutton Workhouse bridge in New Street and like its neighbour is the best part of 200 years old, having also been constructed for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.

It's sandwiched in close proximity to the adjacent and much wider A569 bridge which conveys traffic on Marshall's Cross Road's busy dual carriageways over the railway lines. The two pictures above and below are taken from Sutton Workhouse Bridge in New Street and the two Marshalls Cross Road bridges appear to be a single structure. However, this photograph right was taken from the side of the A569 bridge and reveals the actual listed bridge in close-up. For some time it has been an insufficient conduit for a busy thoroughfare, so it now provides pedestrian access to the west-bound (Liverpool) down platform at Lea Green station. Hence the modern safety barriers above the coping stones.

The Liverpool Mercury of September 21st, 1899 discussed the proposed widening of Marshall's Cross Road on Sherdley estate land given by Captain Michael Hughes in connection with mineral rights. However, the second bridge was probably not added until the 1920s.

According to Henry Booth's 'An Account of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway', (pub. 1830), the original Marshall's Cross Bridge cost £864 13s 10d, almost twice that of Sutton Workhouse bridge in New Street. Booth also stated that the bridge was:

                    •   Constructed from ashler
                    •   Measures 24 feet between the parapets over the arch
                    •   Measures 18 feet between the railway and centre of the arch
                    •   Measures 30 feet between the side walls under the arch
                    •   Supports a road over the bridge with a 1 in 20 slope that's been raised 5 feet

The description appended by the St Helens local authority to the bridge's listing status states:

Bridge. c.1830. Stephenson, for Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Rusticated stone with later iron top parapet. Round arch with radiating voussoirs. Flanking pilaster strips and retaining walls. Parapet on raised band. The number 77 painted on east side.

Marshalls Cross bridge in Sutton, St Helens
Marshalls Cross bridges pictured in February '07 during a snowstorm

c) Bold Bridge - Warrington Road

This structure in Warrington Road, Bold Heath is on the A57, 0.7 miles east of Jubits Lane and close to Tibbs Cross Lane. Under the bridge is a footpath which connects the Sutton Manor Woodland to Farnsworth. On the 1849 6-inch Ordnance Survey, Bold Bridge was referred to as 'Five Arched Bridge' and was built by John Binns a few years earlier.

Warrington Road Bridge in Sutton, St Helens

The bridge in Warrington Road pictured from the overgrown path underneath

One of the bridge's features of interest is the large number of inscriptions found on both of its sides. It's been a tradition for over a hundred years for visitors to carve their own name or their initials into the stone structure. The oldest uncovered carving dates back to July 1878 when J. Currie took out his pen knife and carved his name. The carvings contrast strikingly with the more recent graffiti underneath the bridge which focuses on football teams.

Unfortunately, sandblasting work undertaken on the unlisted bridge in 2008 by St.Helens Council has led to many of the historic carvings being rendered illegible, although some can still just about be read.

Bold Bridge was bombed during the first world war by a Zeppelin airship which damaged a milestone. Read more in article 'German Zeppelins in Sutton's Skies.

Above right: Mr. Currie carved his name on Bold Bridge in July 1878 and eleven years later J. Gilets inscribed his

Joe Molden carved his name on the south side of the bridge in Warrington Road in1890

d) Bold Old Hall Bridge - Off Warrington Road

Bold old hall bridge St.Helens
What remains of Bold Old Hall bridge with its twin gate piers

gate piers at bold old hall bridge sthelens

This structure is located 0.9 miles off Warrington Road, Bold Heath and near to the M62 motorway. Of all the bridges on this page, Bold Old Hall Bridge has least aesthetic interest but as one of the oldest bridges in St Helens, it has a remarkable heritage. When Peter Bold developed the Bold Hall Estate in the early 18th century he commissioned Venetian Architect, Giacomo (aka James) Leoni (1686 – 1746) to design a new mansion and supporting buildings. The latter, built c.1732, included a simple bridge over a moat alongside two imposing pillars or gate piers as they are known.

The hall was demolished in the 1890s and the only surviving aspects of the estate are the bridge, gate piers, former Bold Hall stable range and associated dwelling house, now a farmhouse. The moat has been filled in so that only the parapet wall remains. The description appended by the St Helens local authority to the bridge's listing status states:

Designed by G. Leoni, the Italian architect and built early C18. Simple single arched bridge over moat. (O.S. GRID REF: 354200 390330)

The description appended by the St Helens local authority to the gate piers listing status states:

Designed by Leoni, the Italian architect, and built early C18. The capital of one pier is a restoration. Heavy, massive style, stone. The house was Palladian, now rebuilt in modern times, re-using a 1616 date stone. (O.S. GRID REF: 354200 390250)

Sutton Bridges Photo-Album | Slideshow Version | Research Sources

Header picture: Side of Sutton Workhouse / New Street Bridge; Inset picture: Ellamsbridge Road bridge

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