SHUGBOROUGH 1813 Staffordshire SJ993 227
THE RED BRIDGE N52o 47’ 30.2” W2o 1’ 45.3”
This charming “Chinese” bridge of cast iron is located in the grounds of Shugborough Park which is open to the public by the County Council, although the house itself (once owned by the Anson family) is owned by the National Trust. It is located on the A513 six miles east of Stafford. The bridge was designed by Charles Heywood and manufactured by John Toye.
The bridge is very fortunate in its setting beside a “Chinese” pavilion on the edge of the pond which it spans to an island. It has a very shallow arch spanning 42 feet, six inches with the “descending open ring” design in the spandrels. The parapet railings are simple, but there is a grouping of decorative lattice “pillars” at both ends with crown caps.
THE BLUE BRIDGE 1814 N52o 47’ 56.1” W2o 0’ 53.9” For this longer span, Charles Heywood used three arches with the diminishing circles design in the spandrels, but he repeated the delightful lattice “pillars” at both ends and there are lattice work panels marking the termination of each arch. This bridge is not located in the public-access area, but you can see it by walking on the path of the mansion gardens facing the decorative lake/waterway, as it was located to be viewed across them from the terraces on the backside of the house. Look to your left across the water.