Paddington Bridge (or Bishop’s Bridge) lies above and across ten tracks of railway that run into Paddington Station. When speaking of Paddington Bridge, there is always potential for misunderstanding because the reconstructed bridge of 2006 lies right below the original Bishop’s Bridge which was built by Isambard Brunel at the wake of the 19th century. The old bridge was never built to handle 20th century traffic issues, ergo the need for a replacement. Now its 105m long successor lies beneath, a good 1559 tonnes heavier, bus-ready (unlike the original) and richer by a taxi stand too.

 

The story of Paddington Bridge is that of a utility gained and a monument almost lost. Plans were made to demolish old Paddington Bridge with little knowledge of its origin or architectural value. Stephen Brindle, an inspector of ancient monuments for the English Heritage saved the old bridge from demolition by discovering and publicizing information about its origin. Documents proved that the master engineer Brunel was indeed the brains behind the innovate solution to skipping across a railway and canal of different heights. The 22-beamed bridge lasted 160 years while most of its fellow cast

Iron bridges crumbled – quite a feat, considering that the old Paddington bridge was held together mostly by gravity.

All over Britain, cast iron was being removed and replaced, and as Brindle found out, engineers had reached the Bishop’s Bridge too. Edwardian steelwork had taken the place of cast iron and by 2003 the steelwork was not in great shape. It is worth noting that this Edwardian period was responsible for the baptism of the bridge after the Manor of Paddington, which was awarded by Edward VI to the bishop of London.

Although the name lasted, the Edwardian steelwork was not in good condition; this, along with the bottlenecking of traffic is what instigated the plan (1990) to remove it.

In April 2004 Paddington Bridge was dismantled; the brick facings, stonework and ironwork salvaged were completely reusable. Today, the old bridge lies 10m directly above the new Paddington Bridge, supported by strand jacks connected to four temporary towers. The arrangement is structurally safe and will hold the heritage bridge until it is relocated to a location roughly 200m away from the original site to perform the duties of a footbridge.

Whereas the old Paddington Bridge was original work that was never replicated, its successor is rather commonplace, functional and not much to marvel at. The construction of the new bridge was not delayed by the timely upheaval caused by Brindle. It was completed on time and opened to the public in June 2006.