Oxford’s Rewley Road railway swing bridge is set to benefit from a £90,000 grant towards repairs, restoration and landscaping, from a fund which helps to save important heritage sites.
The grant, awarded by not-for-profit company WREN, is part of a Heritage Fund launched in 2010, which helps to protect Grade I and two star-listed buildings of historical importance across the UK. WREN awards grants to community, conservation and heritage projects within a 10-mile radius of landfill sites, from funds donated by the Waste Recycling Group (WRG) to the Landfill Communities Fund.
Originally constructed in 1850 by Robert Stephenson, the swing bridge is the last significant hand-operated main-line rail swing bridge in existence in Britain. The structure sits on either side of the Sheepwash Channel, and is part of the 19th century railway expansion between Oxford and the Midlands, highlighting the path of the rival railway line which once cut through Oxford.
The cash will fund repairs to restore the fabric of the swing bridge to its 1941 condition. Together with plans to stabilise and improve the physical condition of the structure, the funding will help to improve the setting and landscape of the surrounding area, making it more accessible and appealing for visitors. The project will be helped along by local volunteers and residential groups.
Peter Cox, managing director of WREN, said: “WREN makes a difference to people’s lives by awarding grants to community, environmental and heritage projects across the UK. It’s vital that we support the long-term survival of historical sites such as the Rewley Road swing bridge. Sites like this are part of the historical fabric of the UK and we must ensure they remain intact. We’re delighted to support the restoration and look forward to the completion of this stage of the project.”
Jacquie Martinez, Oxford Preservation Trust Project Officer, said: “The WREN grant will be essential for the success of this project. The nature of the monument, and in order to ensure that the works provide long term protection for the bridge fabric, skilled contractors will be required for tasks such as stripping and painting the bridge surfaces. The generous funding from WREN and our other contributors, including Network Rail, Chiltern Railways and the National Railway Heritage Trust will ensure that this restoration work is possible, securing the future of this important piece of Oxford's industrial heritage.”
The Rewley Road railway swing bridge is one of 12 projects awarded a grant from WREN’s Heritage Fund scheme this year. Chris Welch, English Heritage Inspector of Ancient Monuments for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, said: “Heritage assets such as the railway swing bridge in Oxford often need resources to restore and maintain them for future generations, and we were happy to support these for funding from WREN's dedicated Heritage Fund.”
