Biblins Bridge
{{Infobox bridge
| name = Biblins Bridge
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| image = The Biblins Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 733924.jpg
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| coordinates = {{coord|51.82644|-2.6552|display=inline,title}}
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| carries = Pedestrians
| crosses = River Wye
| locale = Wye Valley
| starts = Monmouthshire
| ends = Herefordshire
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| owner = Forestry Commission
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| material = wood/steel
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| length = 57.9m
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| built = 1957
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| cost = £2,500
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Biblins Bridge is a footbridge which crosses the River Wye between England and Wales, near Symonds Yat. The present structure dates from 1957, although there has been a crossing at this point since the early 20th century.
History and description
A crossing at the point on the River Wye where Biblins Bridge now stands existed in the early 20th century and was used for the transportation of logs across the river.{{efn|At the Biblins Bridge crossing point, the Welsh/English border runs down the middle of the River Wye. The bridge thus has one endpoint in Monmouthshire, Wales, and one in Herefordshire, England.}}{{efn|The English end of the bridge is the location for the Biblins Youth Camp, a camping facility operated by The Woodcraft Folk.{{cite web|url=https://www.biblinsyouthcampsite.org/|title=Biblins Youth Camp|publisher=The Woodcraft Folk|access-date=31 January 2024}} In 2025 the charity announced fundraising plans to restore a bunkhouse at the site. Built in the 1960s, the cabin has been derelict since 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk/news/campsite-aims-to-reopen-its-historic-bunkhouse-for-future-generations-770546|title=Campsite aims to reopen its historic bunkhouse for future generations|first=Andy|last=Sherwill|work=Monmouthshire Beacon|date=4 March 2025|access-date=9 March 2025}} Biblins Lodge, a forester's cottage dating from the early 19th century, is recorded on the RCAHMW Coflein database.{{Coflein|num=410703|desc=Biblins Lodge|access-date=4 February 2024}}}} In 1924, this crossing point was replaced with a footbridge.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forestryengland.uk/biblins-bridge|title=Biblins Bridge|publisher=Forestry England|access-date=31 January 2024}} In 1957 the Forestry Commission rebuilt the footbridge and this replacement is largely what stands today, although it has twice been the subject of major restoration, firstly in the 1990s, and again in 2020, after damage caused by Storm Desmond.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/indiana-jones-style-suspension-bridge-4376194|title=Gloucestershire's own Indiana Jones style bridge re-opens|first=Janet|last=Hughes|date=29 July 2020|publisher=Gloucestershire Live|access-date=31 January 2024}}{{efn|The wooden signpost erected in the 1950s, with distance markers to Monmouth and to Symond's Yat, was swept away in the flooding caused by Storm Desmond. It was recovered {{convert|40|mi}} downstream at Portishead in Somerset, on the opposite side of the Bristol Channel.{{cite web|url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/workers-move-repair-biblins-bridge-3953623|first=Janet|last=Hughes|title=Workers move in to repair Biblins Bridge badly damaged by floods caused by Storm Dennis|publisher=Gloucestershire Live|date=16 March 2020|access-date=31 January 2024}} It was later re-erected at the Biblins site.{{Cite web|url=https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/18607709.campsite-sign-back-storm-dennis-took-portishead/|title=Campsite sign back after Storm Dennis took it to Portishead|first=Dan|last=Barnes|date=26 July 2020|publisher=Hereford Times|access-date=31 January 2024}}}} Land slippage due to flooding again impacted the bridge in 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/19324782.bridge-river-wye-risk-closure-water-levels-rise/|title=Bridge over river Wye at risk of closure as water levels rise|first=James|last=Thomas|date=24 May 2021|publisher=Hereford Times|access-date=31 January 2024}}
The bridge is constructed primarily of timber, with a steel walkway.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitdeanwye.co.uk/things-to-do/walking/symonds-yat-rock-walks|title=Symonds Yat Rock Walks|publisher=Visit Dean Wye|access-date=31 January 2024}} The walkway is strung between two wooden towers, and has a distinct sway.{{sfn|Dunn|2013|p=?}} The bridge is popular with walkers exploring the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/group-walks/little-doward-and-yat-rock|title=The Little Doward and Yat Rock|publisher=Ramblers Association|date=2 December 2023|access-date=31 January 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://walks.walkingworld.com/walk/The-Doward---Biblins---Symonds-Yat-East---The-Doward.aspx|title=The Doward - Biblins - Symonds Yat East - The Doward|website=walks.walkingworld.com|access-date=31 January 2024}} There is a limit of six pedestrians using the bridge at any one time. The bridge is the only crossing point for a {{convert|7|mi|adj=on}} stretch of the Wye, between Huntsham in Herefordshire {{convert|3|mi}} to the north, and the Wye Bridge at Monmouth {{convert|4|mi}} to the south.
Gallery
Children crossing Biblins Bridge, c.1958 - geograph.org.uk - 3646221.jpg|The bridge in 1958, a year after construction
About to step onto the bit that sways - geograph.org.uk - 796337.jpg|Approach to the bridge
Wye footbridge at Biblins - geograph.org.uk - 4010504.jpg|View along the bridge
River Wye from Biblins Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 2368760.jpg|River Wye from the bridge
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite book
|first=Mike|last=Dunn
|title=Walking in the Forest of Dean: 25 Routes in the Historic Royal Forest
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UlmXnADebvYC
|year=2013
|location=Kendal, Cumbria
|publisher=Cicerone Press
|isbn=978-1-849-65899-7
}}
External links
{{commonscat|Biblins Bridge}}
- [http://web.archive.org/web/20120928190402/http://www.bath.ac.uk/ace/uploads/StudentProjects/Bridgeconference2007/conference/mainpage/Molesworth_Biblins.pdf Study of Biblins Bridge (2007)]