Shard Bridge
Encyclopedia
Shard Bridge is a bridge
in the English
county of Lancashire
. It spans the River Wyre
, connecting Singleton
, on the southern side of the river, to Hambleton
, on its northern side (known locally as "Over Wyre
"), carrying both automotive and pedestrian traffic of Shard Road (the A588
).
The original bridge was built in 1864, and it went on to replace a ferry
service between Stanah and Wardley's Creek further downstream to the west.
The first of two modern incarnations of the bridge was rebuilt in 1993, moving the structure a few yards downstream.
Formerly a toll bridge
, Shard Bridge is now a free municipal crossing.
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. It spans the River Wyre
River Wyre
The River Wyre is a river in Lancashire, United Kingdom, which flows into the Irish Sea at Fleetwood. It is approximately 28 miles in length...
, connecting Singleton
Singleton, Lancashire
Singleton is a village and civil parish in Lancashire, England. It is situated on the coastal plain called The Fylde. It is located south-east of Poulton le Fylde, and as of the 2001 census had a population of 877...
, on the southern side of the river, to Hambleton
Hambleton, Lancashire
Hambleton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Lancashire. It is situated on a coastal plain called the Fylde and in an area east of the River Wyre known locally as Over Wyre. Hambleton lies approximately north-east of its post town, Poulton-le-Fylde, and about north-east of the...
, on its northern side (known locally as "Over Wyre
Over Wyre
Over Wyre is the collective name given to a group of villages in Lancashire, England, situated on the Fylde, to the north of the River Wyre. The group is usually considered to include Hambleton, Stalmine, Knott End-on-Sea, Preesall, Pilling and Out Rawcliffe...
"), carrying both automotive and pedestrian traffic of Shard Road (the A588
A588 road
The A588 is a road in England, which runs from Poulton-le-Fylde to Lancaster in Lancashire. It is the primary route serving the Over Wyre areas of the Fylde....
).
The original bridge was built in 1864, and it went on to replace a ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
service between Stanah and Wardley's Creek further downstream to the west.
The first of two modern incarnations of the bridge was rebuilt in 1993, moving the structure a few yards downstream.
Formerly a toll bridge
Toll bridge
A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a toll, or fee.- History :The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large...
, Shard Bridge is now a free municipal crossing.