The proposed Old Bridge Refurbishment works due to start in Autumn 2014 will include the restoration of the historical street lighting apparatus and replacement of the existing contemporary lighting with replica historical lighting equipment. To facilitate the proposed refurbishment works some advance investigations are necessary to determine whether the old and new lighting equipment are compatible. Integration between the old and new equipment is critical to ensuring the proposed works are sympathetic to the character of the Grade II Listed Old Bridge.
Lanterns and lighting brackets to be removed are on the downstream side of the Old Bridge at the Strood Portico and at the Strood Pier. The brackets will be removed by specialist metalwork contractor Mather & Smith who will ensure the brackets can be re-erected during the main refurbishment works.
The proposed street lighting improvements also involve replication of the historical lighting columns on the Strood Approach. In keeping with the Trust’s commitment to maintaining the historical character of the Old Bridge the replica columns will be cast from a mould of an existing column. The column positioned on the downstream pedestal at Arthrell’s Arch will be removed to allow a mould to be manufactured.
Notes:
1. The Rochester Bridge Trust is a charitable trust that exists to maintain the old and new bridges at Rochester and serve the travelling public. It is the only surviving bridge trust still serving its original purpose, and it has served the people of Kent since 1399. The Trust also supports numerous community and education projects across historic Kent and Medway.
2. The Trust’s assets all derive from endowments of land and money in the 14th and 15th centuries and are carefully managed in order to provide an income to fund bridge maintenance and local charitable grants. The Trust receives no external funding and is regulated by the Charity Commission.
For more information:
The Rochester Bridge Trust
5 Esplanade
Rochester
Kent ME1 1QE
Tel: 01634 846706
Fax: 01634 840125