 |
This is one of the
two bridges leading into the town the other being Bolebridge.
Lady Bridge was at first a wooden structure recorded in the court records of the town as
far back as 1294 where it is mentioned in connection with the washing of tripes in the
river.For many years the townsfolk of Tamworth were charged a toll to cross the bridge and
there was a toll house nearby which is just visible in the accompanying picture.In 1795
the bridge was destroyed by severe winter weather, and for a while people had to use the
nearby ford to cross the river or make a detour and use Bolebridge instead.
In 1839 the bridge was widened to accommodate more traffic this work was partly paid for
by Sir Robert Peel he donated £500 to the project. 100 years later
the bridge was again widened to make it the bridge we see today.In the distant past the
bridge was known as the "Bridge of our Lady" because of the statue of the Virgin
Mary which once stood in the middle of the bridge.The plinth to this statue remains near
to it's original site but the statue has long since disappeared, the plinth can be seen at
the top of the mound on which Tamworth Castle stands.
