Kennington Road Bridge

Across the gentle currents of the River Thames stands the Kennington Railway Bridge. It’s not just a bridge, but a steel sentinel guarding a fascinating story. Kennington Railway Bridge isn’t a name that trips off the tongue like some of Oxford’s more famous landmarks. But it holds a unique place in the city’s history. This bridge carries a freight line serving the BMW Mini factory at Cowley, a modern purpose built on a historical foundation. The current Kennington Railway Bridge, erected in 1923, replaced an older, five-span structure from 1863. The original bridge, built for the Wycombe Railway, began to show its age by 1914. Settling screw piles prompted the Great Western Railway to consider a replacement. However, the First World War intervened, delaying the project. A temporary solution of wooden trestles, supported by bagged cement foundations, kept the old Kennington Railway Bridge functional throughout the war years. The new Kennington Railway Bridge, a three-span steel bowstring construction, was designed in-house by the Great Western Railway. The contract for its construction went to George Palmer of Neath, Glamorgan, with the Horseley Bridge and Engineering Co Ltd of Tipton fabricating the six massive bowstrings. Each 83-foot, 23-ton bowstring made a journey from Tipton to Kennington on a pair of Pollen C four-wheeled wagons. Two 36-ton rail-mounted cranes then hoisted each piece into its designated place. The railway itself was realigned for a short distance on either side to accommodate the new Kennington Railway Bridge. The old bridge was then dismantled, its piers and temporary trestles demolished, leaving only the sturdy new structure. Kennington Railway Bridge stands as a testament to engineering resilience, a quiet workhorse supporting a vital industrial link. Next time you see a Mini, remember the unassuming steel bridge that plays a part in its journey, the Kennington Railway Bridge, a hidden gem in Oxford’s industrial tapestry.