Summit Bridge
SUMMIT BRIDGE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1391875
- Date first listed:
- 08-Feb-2007
- List Entry Name:
- Summit Bridge
- Statutory Address:
- SUMMIT BRIDGE
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1391875
- Date first listed:
- 08-Feb-2007
- List Entry Name:
- Summit Bridge
- Statutory Address 1:
- SUMMIT BRIDGE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- SUMMIT BRIDGE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Sandwell (Metropolitan Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SP 01583 89430
Details
1868/0/10078 SANDWELL SUMMIT BRIDGE Birmingham Canal Wolverhampton Level II*
Road bridge over the cutting of the summit of the Birmingham Canal, Old Main Line Wolverhampton Level. Constructed between 1788-9 by John Smeaton when he improved the canal by reducing the summit level from 491ft to 472ft.
MATERIALS:Constructed of red brick with brick copings and a sandstone keystone.
PLAN: It is a massive single span bridge with segmental arch. The towpath passes under the south western side.
EXTERIOR: There are protruding brick pilasters, a double string course, and curving flanking abutments with short protruding end piers. On the north western face there is a cast iron date plaque bearing the legend 'MDCCXC'.
SOURCES: `Smethwick: Communications', A History of the County of Staffordshire: Volume 17 (1976), 96-8; http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=36174. Date accessed: 25 September 2006; AM7 Scheduling, WM12, Smeaton's Summit Bridge, 9 May 1972.
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE: Smeaton's Summit Bridge, survives as an un-altered example of engineering prowess from the height of the industrial revolution. Designed by the leading civil engineer of the time, its massive proportions demonstrate technical innovation, providing an elegant solution to the requirement for a road crossing at this difficult site. The scale of the project can be seen as a precursor to later engineering projects of the railway era and ably demonstrates the technical excellence of John Smeaton. As part of the improvement scheme to the Birmingham mainline canal the Summit Bridge also provides reference to the high level of investment in, and importance of, canal navigations to the industrial development of Georgian England.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 491439
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
A History of the County of Staffordshire. Volume 17 in Smethwick: Communications, Vol. 17, (1976), 96-98
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 07-Jun-2026 at 16:42:15.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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