Perry Bridge

{{short description|Historic bridge in Birmingham, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}

{{Infobox Bridge

|bridge_name= Perry Bridge

|image= Perry Bridge.jpg

|caption=

|official_name=

|carries= Now only pedestrian

|crosses= River Tame

|locale= Perry Barr, Birmingham, England

|maint= Birmingham City Council

|id=

|design=

|mainspan=

|length= {{convert|50|m|ft|0}}

|width= {{convert|4|m|ft|0}}

|height= |load= |clearance= |below=

|traffic= |begin=

|complete= 1711

|open=

|closed=

|coordinates= {{coord|52.52534|-1.89711|type:landmark_region:GB-BIR|display=inline,title}}

}}

Perry Bridge, also known as the Zig Zag Bridge, is a bridge over the River Tame in Perry Barr, Birmingham, England. Built in 1711, it is a Grade II listed building{{NHLE |num=1219667 |access-date=29 April 2007}} and a Scheduled monument.{{National Heritage List for England|num=1002980|access-date=24 August 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/archaeologysam|title=Birmingham's Scheduled Ancient Monuments|publisher=Birmingham City Council|access-date=24 August 2014}}

The bridge is constructed of red sandstone in a packhorse style. It is believed that it is the bridge built by order of the Staffordshire Quarter Sessions, held in 1709, to take the place of a 'wood horse bridge' (Perry Barr was in Staffordshire until 1928). It is said to have been built by Sir Henry Gough of nearby Perry Hall.The Story of Erdington: From Sleepy Hamlet to Thriving Suburb, Douglas V. Jones, 1985, Westwood Press Publications ({{ISBN|0948025050}}) A crossing has been on the spot since Roman times as this was the exact spot where Ryknild Street (today's Aldridge Road) crossed the river, giving rise to the local placename, "Holford".{{cite news |last1=Chinn |first1=Carl |title=The mystery manor of Witton unearthed. |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+mystery+manor+of+Witton+unearthed-a0174424527 |work=Birmingham Mail |date=9 February 2008}} A stream, "Holbrook", joins the river adjacent to the bridge.

Written evidence of this crossing date back to as early as 1509 when there was mention of a field, named "Bridge Meadow", being located nearby.Birmingham Faces and Places (1891) (Volume 3)

File:Zigzag Bridge sign.jpg

The bridge is {{convert|50|ft|m|0}} in length and {{convert|13|ft|m|0}} wide.{{cite web |url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=14109&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=11470#perrybridge |title=Birmingham City Council: Perry Bridge |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930210317/http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=14109&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=11470#perrybridge |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status= dead }} The parapets on each side rise nearly {{convert|3|ft|m|0}}. It is now open only to pedestrian traffic. It appears in the badge of Handsworth Grammar School.

A replacement bridge, in Art Deco style, built in 1932, stands alongside, and carries vehicular traffic on the route.