Victoria Swing Bridge
{{Short description|Road bridge in Edinburgh, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox bridge
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| image = Victoria Bridge (geograph 1904589).jpg
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| crosses = Water of Leith
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| engineering = Rendel and Robertson
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| material = Wrought iron
| length = {{convert|212|ft}}
| width = {{convert|24|ft}}
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| mainspan = {{convert|120|ft}}
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| begin = 1871
| complete = 1874
| cost = {{GBP|30,000}}
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The Victoria Swing Bridge is a swing bridge in Leith docks, Edinburgh, Scotland, which carries a dock road (and previously twin railway lines) across the Water of Leith at a point where it is canalised as the Inner Harbour.
History
File:Leith docks swing bridge-001.jpg
The bridge was built between 1871 and 1874 to service the new docks.{{cite web|url=http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/51986/details/edinburgh+leith+docks+victoria+swing+bridge/|title=Edinburgh, Leith Docks, Victoria Swing Bridge|work=Canmore|publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland|location=Edinburgh|accessdate=23 September 2014}} It was engineered by Rendel and Robertson, with J. H. Bostock as resident engineer. McDonald & Grant were contractors for the foundations, and the bridge was built by the Skerne Iron Works. The works cost around {{GBP|30,000}}.
Until the completion of the Kincardine Bridge, also in Scotland, in 1936, it is thought to have been the longest clear swing bridge span in Britain (The Swing Bridge, River Tyne, completed two years after the Victoria Bridge, has a longer deck span).
In 1974, the bridge was designated a Category A listed building by Historic Environment Scotland (HES).{{cite web |title=Victoria Swing Bridge, Leith Docks |url=https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB27644 |website=Listed Buildings |publisher=Historic Environment Scotland |access-date=30 January 2024 |ref=LB27644 |date=5 September 2014}}
Despite some renovation of the bridge that was completed in 2000,{{cite web |title=Audio Trail |url=https://www.waterofleith.org.uk/audio-trail/victoria-bridge |website=The Water of Leith Conservation Trust |access-date=30 January 2024}} HES put the structure on the Buildings at Risk Register in 2020 with a risk category of "Moderate". This followed reports of the poor condition of the deck, with timber rotting in places and vegetation taking hold.{{cite web |title=Victoria Swing Bridge, Leith |url=https://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/details/1042277 |website=Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland |publisher=Historic Environment Scotland |access-date=30 January 2024}}
In 2021, Forth Ports was granted listed building consent for a full refurbishment programme, the work to include renovation of the two walkways, re-decking of the carriageway, replacement of the decked turning circle areas and repainting of the metalwork. The project would be financed by a "private six-figure investment".{{cite web |title=Edinburgh grants listed building consent for Victoria Swing Bridge repairs |url=https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/articles/edinburgh-grants-listed-building-consent-for-victoria-swing-bridge-repairs |website=Scottish Construction Now |access-date=30 January 2024 |language=en |date=5 November 2021}} The refurbishment was completed and the bridge officially reopened in June 2024.{{cite news |last1=McConnell |first1=Ian |title=Historic Scots bridge reopens with celebrations after major revamp |work=The Herald |date=11 June 2024 |location=Glasgow |page=23}}
Design
File:Victoria Swing Bridge, Leith Docks Sept 2007 (5970359683).jpg
It was {{convert|212|ft}} long in total, with a clear span of {{convert|120|ft}}, and a roadway width of {{convert|24|ft}}. The bridge was constructed from wrought iron, and weighed {{convert|620|t}}, including {{convert|60|t}} of timber decking and {{convert|240|t}} of kentledge counterweight. The bridge carried two tracks of a dock railway and a road, and there are footpaths on either side outside the truss structure.{{cite web |url=http://www.leithlocalhistorysociety.org.uk/bridges/victoria_swing_bridge.htm |title=Victoria Swing Bridge |publisher=leithlocalhistorysociety.org.uk |accessdate=23 September 2014}} The tracks and roadway have now been removed, and the bridge has a wooden deck.
The bridge was powered hydraulically by a power station just to the north.{{cite web |url=http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/79562/details/edinburgh+leith+docks+alexandra+dry+dock+hydraulic+power+station/ |title=Edinburgh, Leith Docks, Alexandra Dry Dock, Hydraulic Power Station |publisher=rcahms.gov.uk |accessdate=23 September 2014}} It swung to the north, and the space afforded for the counterbalance can still be seen.
It has been succeeded by a new bridge further downstream, which carries a road & tramline known as Ocean Drive.{{cite web |url=http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/289022/details/edinburgh+leith+docks+victoria+bridge/ |title=Edinburgh, Leith Docks, Victoria Bridge |publisher=rcahms.gov.uk |accessdate=23 September 2014}}{{Google maps |url=https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.9788702,-3.1702765,149m/data=!3m1!1e3 |title=Victoria Swing Bridge |accessdate=23 September 2014}}