Friar Gate Bridge

I have walked under Friar gate bridge for more than twenty years and not once did I ever think about where it came from or why it was there. In fact, it wasn’t until recently that I really thought about Friar gate bridge. About the work that had been put into the building, running and maintaining it. About how important it is to teach others about this wonderful piece of history we have.

The facts are important.

Friar gate bridge, also known as Handyside bridge, came about in 1877 because of the Great Northern railway Derbyshire and Staffordshire’s extension (1872). The railway line linked Nottingham and Grantham to Burton Upon Trent and to the southwest of the area.
The bridge was designed by Richard Johnson and built by Andrew Handyside and company, a Derby based iron foundry firm.
In 1878 the line was opened for traffic goods and in April of that year, the passenger line was opened. For eighty-six years people could enjoy the benefits of having a train located on the Friar gate line as it was known locally.
It was closed to passengers in 1964 due to the Beeching cuts, 1967 saw the good facilities being withdrawn and by 1971 the last train ran from Friar gate station to Mickleover.
By 1987, The bridges over Willow Row, Brook street and Brook walk were taken down. The arches were cleared away and Agard bridge was demolished.

At some point, the bridge was sold to the Derby council for £1 with the condition that the local council would maintain it and finally that have begun to do so, with the help of Friends of Friar gate bridge.

Yes, facts are important to know but the bridge is much more than facts.

My ancestors would have seen the bridge being built. They would have wondered what opportunities the rail line would bring for them and seen the benefits Derby gained. Now we too can wonder at what new opportunities the bridge can bring because as people of Derby we have an opportunity to restore and maintain Friar gate bridge.

As people of Derby, we have an obligation to restore and maintain Friar gate bridge.