HAWKESBURY JUNCTION BRIDGE 1837 HEW 1111 SP363 846 N52o 27’ 27.5” W1o 28’ 10.0”
This bridge was built in 1837 when the junction between the Coventry Canal and the Oxford Canal was relocated to Hawksbury. This bridge carries the tow path across the junction. It was designed by Mr. J. Sinclair and cast at the Britannia Foundry by Handysides of Derby.
The semi-elliptical arch of 60 foot span has two main ribs covered on the arch with iron plates bolted to the three sections of each rib. The main rib is two inches thick with an ‘L’ cross section 15 inches thick with an integral parapet of X lattice four feet high. The effect is very much like the Rhys y Car type of tram bridge construction. The decking is iron plates bolted to the hip flanges and paved with brick which is raised in ribs for more secure footing on the steep arch. For such a utilitarian purpose, Mr. Sinclair designed a very bold and visually interesting little bridge.
The traffic in Coventry around the Ricoh Center makes finding this little canal community somewhat difficult . Heading out of town towards Nuneaton on the A4113 look carefully for a turning on the right called Black Horse Road with an insignificant sign on your left saying Hawksbury and pointing to a right turn which you should take.