Wilford Ferry

Until the bridge opened a Wilford Ferry was in operation for some 400 hundred years. This ferry was the scene of a disaster in 1784, when in the midst of a gale an overcrowded ferry boat capsized, and six unfortunate passengers were drowned.

Another fatal accident occurred on 10 January 1837 when John Oakley, a Wilford farmer, and two others used another boat which drifted downstream and capsized when it hit the ferry chain.

An act of parliament was obtained in 1862 for the construction of a bridge. The ferry service ended on 18 September 1864, when a temporary wooden footbridge was opened.

Wilford Toll Bridge

The toll bridge opened on 16 June 1870. It was built by Sir Robert Juckes-Clifton, 9th Baronet for the traffic for Clifton Colliery. The bridge was a cast-iron structure by Andrew Handyside

Andrew Handyside

Andrew Handyside and Company was an iron founder in Derby, England in the nineteenth century.-Biography:Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1805, Handyside worked in his uncle Charles Baird's engineering business in St. Petersburg before taking over the Brittania Foundry in 1848...

 of Derby.

The toll house was designed by the architect E.W. Hughes

The bridge was owned by the Clifton family until Nottingham City Council took over in 1969.

The council assessment revealed that bridge was in a poor condition and it was closed to traffic in 1974. The centre span of the bridge was demolished and replaced by a narrower foot bridge.

The bridge is due to be enlarged to carry Phase 2 of the Nottingham Express Transit

Nottingham Express Transit

Nottingham Express Transit is a light-rail tramway in the Nottingham area in England. The first line opened to the public on 9 March 2004, having cost £200 million to construct. The scheme took sixteen years from conception to implementation...

 system.

Table of tolls

On the toll house is a sign which reads:

Table of tolls to be taken under the Wilford Bridge Act 1862. For every horse or other beast drawing any Coach or Stage Coach, Omnibus, Van, Caravan, Sociable, Berlin, Landau, Chaial, A-Vis, Barouche, Phaeton, Chaise Marine, Caleche, Carricle, Chair, Gig, Dog cart, Irish Car, whisky, Hearse, Litter, Chais or any little carriage 6D. For every horse or other beast drawing any wagon, wain, cart or other carriage. 4D. For every horse or mule, laden or unladen not drawing 1½ D. For every Ox, Cow, Bull or Neat cattle 1 penny; or for a score 6D.