By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Icy Europe
  • Home
  • Business
  • Cooking
  • Facts
  • Featured
  • Global
  • Lifestyle
    • Culture
    • Politics
    • Sports
  • Travel
    • Places to Visit
Reading: The Amazing Pulteney Bridge—4 Things You Must Know
Share
Icy EuropeIcy Europe
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Business
  • Cooking
  • Facts
  • Featured
  • Global
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Search
  • Home
  • Business
  • Cooking
  • Facts
  • Featured
  • Global
  • Lifestyle
    • Culture
    • Politics
    • Sports
  • Travel
    • Places to Visit
Follow US
© Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Pulteney Bridge
Icy Europe > Blog > Travel > The Amazing Pulteney Bridge—4 Things You Must Know
Travel

The Amazing Pulteney Bridge—4 Things You Must Know

AnuSoujanee
Last updated: December 1, 2023 4:49 pm
Anu Soujanee
Share
7 Min Read
By travellight/Shutterstock

Pulteney Bridge is an overpass that crosses River Avon, which was built to connect the rural estate of Frances Pulteney and the main town in 1774. The landmark is located in Bath, England, and is perfect for a charming and romantic evening stroll.

Contents
1. Why is Pulteney Bridge Famous?2. Can You Cross Pulteney Bridge?3. Can You Drive Over Pulteney Bridge?4. How Old is Pulteney Bridge?4.1. History4.2. Restoration5. Final Words

Scottish architect Robert Adam designed the bridge, but it has been restored multiple times. The iconic horseshoe-shaped weir not only controls the flow of river water but also adds a scenic aspect to the bridge. Pulteney Bridge is one of only four bridges lined with shops in the world.

The weir is, however, older than the bridge, built in the 16th century to prevent flooding in the area. It was refurbished and modernized in the 1970s, giving it its current shape and aesthetic water flow.

The view of the lake, weir, and Pulteney Bridge, with its reflection of the arches, is a visual of harmony from the parade gardens. The Pulteney Weir is a serene place to watch, but the river flow is so strong it can evade any swimmer.

Pulteney Bridge
By gowithstock/Shutterstock

1. Why is Pulteney Bridge Famous?

Pulteney Bridge, being of unique architecture and history, has been considered a world heritage and is a Grade 1 listed building. The construction reflects Palladian-style Georgian architecture. The bridge has shops on both sides, all supported by the bridge itself.

Depositphotos 85508614 XL
By irisphoto11/ deposit photos

The design very much mimics the style of medieval bridges in Italy, like the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. The Pulteney bridge has been featured on movie sets as well, as in the 2012 movie Les Misérables, a French historical movie, where Russell Crowe plays Javert.

2. Can You Cross Pulteney Bridge?

Yes, pedestrians can cross the bridge on foot. But it would be just like walking through a street. One might not be aware that it’s a bridge because of the shops that span both sides. It is always available and costs nothing.

3. Can You Drive Over Pulteney Bridge?

The route is only for buses, taxis, and bicycles; cars and other traffic will be fined as they are not allowed. One can walk along the bridge to access the cafes and the quirky shops. However, there are plans to stop motor vehicles on this historical heritage completely, but they are not yet in place.

4. How Old is Pulteney Bridge?

4.1. History

The bridge is of historical value as it was built in the 17th century. William Pulteney had grand plans for the new town and constructed the bridge with a vision.

The land inherited by his wife, Frances Pulteney, was rural property, and to get across the river, one had to depend on the ferry. William Pulteney was a lawyer and a parliament member; as an important man with sufficient political connections, he got the bridge commissioned by the Bath City Council.

William took several estimates that included a very normal design and a little fancy one. However, the bridge design was assigned to Robert Adam, who took inspiration from designs similar to the bridges in Rome and Italy.

The shops on both sides, the columns that held them with designed porticos, the intricacy was so detailed that the Venetian windows and doors displayed lights that intrigued the passerby.

The low round domes hidden behind the pointed façade of the two ending structures, which are little extensions, are present. Welsh slate makes up the roof, which is sloped.

The bridge, after protests from the locals, was completed in 1774. However, it wasn’t easy to attract tenants. Closer to 1792, the bridge had a good economy, and a revision in the structure was made by expanding certain parts.

4.2. Restoration

But disaster struck in 1799. There was a vast flood that destroyed and damaged the bridge. It was later repaired, but the new bridge had lost the charm and uniqueness of what Adam had designated.

With sharp changes to the windows and roofs, the restored bridge had no merit. In 1804, a new western mid-stream pier was constructed. In 1895, the west pavilion was moved to provide a place for the Grand Parade, another modification. The area had a wide range of commercial access from the start of the 19th century.

However, the architecture was neglected, and changes were made to increase commercial benefits.

It was in the mid-19th century that the Bath City Council took over the rest of the shops and restored the bridge to its original glory. The Palladian-style bridge has been renewed and reinforced with limestone.

Over the years, the north side of the bridge was altered many times; some shops expanded over beams and hung over the river itself.

Thus, the North is much less photographed and resembles a standard bridge. It is the south side that has architectural value and has the view of the original design. With the construction of the grand parade, changes were made to Pulteney Bridge, and some of the shops were removed.

5. Final Words

Pulteney Bridge
By Alexey Fedorenko/Shutterstock

Apart from the shop-lined bridges, exploring the activities and attractions nearby is worth your time. Pulteney Bridge leads right into the Great Pulteney Street, which is lined with 18th-century Georgian architecture. Holburne Museum, Royal Crescent, Jane Austen Center, Victoria Art Gallery, and Roman Baths are a few suggestions for your trip to Bath City.

There are a variety of shops you can browse from, including a sweet cafe that has a view of River Avon, florists, antique shops, jewelers, and restaurants.

The restaurants and cafe give you a breathtaking view of the river and the weir. You can tour the area on boats as well. The location of Pulteney Bridge is perfect; it is one of the most peaceful places in Bath for a stroll. There are many hotels and inns for accommodation near the Pulteney Bridge, and some open out to the immense view itself.

Last Updated on December 1, 2023 by Apeksha Soni

TAGGED:Places to visit in BathPulteney Bridgetravel
Share This Article
Facebook Email Copy Link Print
By Anu
A ceaseless whim to write..!
By Soujanee
Follow:
Wild and free in my imagination, I never really found a place big enough for me in my childhood to keep my thoughtful and detailed stories and viewpoints. Thus, my haven was my mind. Then I found a new place to give my ideas and thoughts a "real" place to stay. The words that I put on paper or type while using my keyboard are the gateways for self-expression. Writing gives my imagination a life that connects me with other innovators and imaginative minds. It is beautiful and efficient and overall, wholesome. Currently, I am pursuing BA Honours in English, with Economics and Sociology as General Elective subjects from Scottish Church College, University of Calcutta. The subject, that is English, mentally and emotionally involves me by stimulating me to do better, making me decide that I was developed for the role of a writer. The reason I love Literature and Sociology is because of the depths of the stories, characters and the potential for critical thinking. I understand various aspects of the social and psychological fabric of individuals. I was also a part of the PR team of my Literary club in college throughout my first year. My duty was to create Instagram posts and edit articles submitted by students after selecting them from numerous entries. I have been actively involved in various competitions that required mastery of Spoken English. Written English, creativity, critical thinking and quick thinking. With facts from history, an understanding of the present and creativity for the future, I look forward to creating. Similar factors apply to content writing. Firstly, researching the topic is an interesting way to boost one's knowledge. Then, critically thinking about the topic is not only mentally stimulating but also proper use of time. Last but not least, the whole process of presenting content is a result of carefully throughout ideas and facts. The end goal is to capture the attention of a vast audience through excellent presentation and expression of ideas through content.
Leave a Comment Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Authors

  • Anu
    Anu,
    View all posts
  • Soujanee
    Soujanee
    View all posts

Icy Europe – Making Life Easier, One Read at a Time.

Icy Europe is for those who want to know more about European culture. It’s about those who are looking at lifestyle tips, travel itineraries, and more.

Whether you’ve your business in Europe, or just love to cook, you’ll love what we have to offer.

Icy Europe provides in-depth articles and guides on places to visit, culinary experiences, and practical advice for navigating various aspects of life and business in Europe.

We aim to inform and inspire through well-researched content that spans cultural, geographical, and professional fields.

Top Travel Guides in Europe

12 Shocking Things To Do In Lyttos Beach
13 Things To Do In Lyttos Beach That You Must Know
Travel
pexels michal pech
Exploring Some Of The Best Alps Ski Resorts
Travel
pexels kaip
The Best Places To Visit In Europe In November
Travel
pexels bertellifotografia
The Amazing Glamping Sites In The UK
Travel
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

Not a member? Sign Up