{{Short description|Bridge in Norwich, England}} {{Use British English|date=September 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox bridge | name = Carrow Bridge | image = File:Carrow Bridge, Norwich - geograph.org.uk - 5292820.jpg | caption = Carrow Bridge in 2013 | coordinates = {{coord|52.62118|N|1.30644|E|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | os_grid_reference = TG 2390 0773 | carries = Carrow Road | crosses = River Wensum | location = Norwich, England | upstream = Novi Sad Friendship Bridge | downstream = Trowse Bridge | material = | width = {{Convert|12.5|m|ft}} | clearance_below = {{Convert|4.27|m|ft}} | built = 1923 | replaces = Old Carrow Bridge | references = <ref name="broadsauthority">{{Cite web |title=Bridge heights and openings |url=https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/navigating-the-broads/bridge-heights-and-opening-times |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Broads Authority}}</ref> }} '''Carrow Bridge''' is a bridge over the River Wensum in Norwich, England, carrying Carrow Road. The original Old Carrow Bridge was built in 1810 and replaced in 1833 by an iron bascule bridge. A new Carrow Bridge was built further north in 1923 to replace the old one, alongside what is now the only surviving bridge house in the city, Carrow Bridge House.
== History == Demand for a larger bridge across the Wensum was present as early as 1776, with the historic crossing points at Trowse Bridge and Bishopgate Bridge providing only limited access to and from the city centre. That year, a letter to the Norwich Corporation asked for an act of Parliament for the building of another bridge.<ref name="barringer">{{Cite book |last=Barringer |first=Christopher |title=Norwich since 1550 |date=2004 |publisher=Hambledon & London |isbn=978-1-85285-450-8 |editor-last=Rawcliffe |editor-first=Carole |edition=1st |location= |pages=23 |language=en |chapter=The Changing Face of Norwich |editor-last2=Wilson |editor-first2=Richard}}</ref> Carrow Bridge was first built in 1810 as a bypass for Foundry Bridge. It was likely made of wood.<ref name="nheold">{{Cite web |title=Old Carrow Bridge |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF842-Old-Carrow-Bridge |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=Norfolk Heritage Explorer}}</ref>
[[File:James Stark (1794-1859) - Carrow Bridge, Norwich - NWHCM , 1951.235.1294 , F - Norfolk Museums Collections.jpg|left|thumb|A painting of Carrow Bridge on the Wensum in circa 1834, by James Stark]] The 1810 bridge was replaced in 1833 by a single-leaf roller iron bascule bridge,<ref name="nheold" /><ref name="pevsner">{{Cite book |last=Pevsner |first=Nikolaus |title=Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East |last2=Wilson |first2=Bill |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2002 |isbn=9780300096071 |pages=279}}</ref> designed by Arthur Browne.<ref name="pevsner" /> It is now known as Old Carrow Bridge.<ref name="nheold" />
The current bridge was constructed to replace the old bridge in 1923, in a position further north.<ref name="nhe">{{Cite web |title=Carrow Bridge |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF843-Carrow-Bridge |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=Norfolk Heritage Explorer}}</ref> This was ostensibly unemployment relief work, due to pressure from Colman's which wanted to extend their works over the public road.<ref name="nheold" /> Carrow Road was diverted to reach the new bridge.<ref name="nhe" />
== Carrow Bridge House == thumb|upright|Carrow Bridge House in 2018 Carrow Bridge House, standing next to the current bridge, is the only surviving bridge house in Norwich.<ref name="storey">{{Cite web |last=Storey |first=Eleanor |date=2024-03-02 |title=Third appeal for Carrow Bridge House in Norwich to be demolished |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgl5774y076o |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The house was built around 1923 to provide accommodation for the bridge master. It is a two-storey cottage with an unusual parallelogram footprint, a pantile roof and pebbledash walls.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carrow Bridge House |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF75592-Carrow-Bridge-House |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=Norfolk Heritage Explorer}}</ref>
Three applications have been made to knock the house down. Norfolk County Council applied to knock it down for landscaping in 2018, and it was sold the following year; its owner of 50 years asked potential buyers to leave it standing. Its new owner Wexham Homes submitted plans to Norwich City Council for it to be demolished and replaced with a new building in 2023 and 2024. All three applications were denied.<ref name="storey" />
== See also ==
* Fye Bridge, another bridge built in the early 20th century in Norwich * {{Commons category-inline}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Bridges of Norwich Category:Bridges completed in 1810 Category:Bridges completed in 1833 Category:Bridges completed in 1923