Cycling Over The Bowstring Bridge Leicester, 2009.

On a cold clear Valentine's day 2009, I saw the council had left the gates to the southern end of the threatened bridge open. No signs to deter anyone were displayed. I made this short film to show the potential of the bridge from a future user's point of view, and to show the good condition of the steelwork. This seems to contradict everything Leicester City Council is telling us about the bridge. Join the Facebook group and show your support for keeping this elegant landmark from destruction, and help to assure the future of this sturdy piece of socio/economic/cultural architecture.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Bowstring
• Bridge
• Leicester
• Industrial
• Heritage
• History
• Conservation
• Architecture
• Great
• Central
• Railway

[AtheistAgent]

It's ugly, it's condemned and it's going down. End of story, bye bye.

[Owlesque1]

It's only ugly through neglect. It's unimaginative people like you that never question authority. And just the sort that after a restoration, re use and still never thinking about being a bit more independent minded, would say " you know, that bridge looks good now they restored it and made that mini camden market out of it." And you'll always be a nay sayer and someone that makes the world more bland, than if you applied some vision to your thinking.

[AtheistAgent]

It's a waste of space, and my vision is of a swimming pool. Explain to me the cultural significance of it compared to say, the Gateway, which is now no longer an island on a busy main road thanks to DMU. I bet you'll whine about their demolision of The Gateway College next? I'm sure the bridge may look nice with a few million in restoration, but frankly if English heritage don't think it's worth preserving then they're probably right, being far more informed than any of the protesters.

[Owlesque1]

It's a good job there are people in this world that 'whine' as you say. Otherwise we'd all just go along with everything anyone in a position of power wants. There'd be no vote for women, and Hitler's legacy would still hold this part of the world. You seem to see anyone questioning decisions as annoying. Well, I'm glad they give us a tiny bit of democaracy in this country, though not in this case in Leicester. Mercury open poll a week long gave 98% of Leices residents wanting bridge listed.

[richardsnow]

It's solid and a beautiful example of victorian railway engineering.

Save it!!!

[equinegal07]

Save the bridge LCC are stuip!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bertyUK]

IS IT ME OR IS EVERYONE IN LEICESTER SOME KIND OF STUDENT THESE DAYS?

THAT'S WHY IT WAS DESTROYED...

TO MAKE WAY FOR MICKEY MOUSE DEGREES...

[Artym1ss]

@KingLearie

just looking back over this....agreed, the underpass was a pisshole but I had hoped they might keep the bowl shaped part with the solar system, or maybe move it in sections to somewhere else.

[zenoist2]

@AtheistAgent please expl;ain to me why this bridge is demolished for a swimming pool?

A mid air swimming pool built over a road will be interesting to see.

[coltsuperocean10]

@AtheistAgent ...knobhead!!

[Kyrano]

where is this within leicester?, im making a film for my art course and this would work great with it

[MrJames27011]

What has caused damage has been forty odd years of water trapped between the pathway and supporting ironwork. Now,you imagine forty years of water Freezing and expanding thawing. this over a long period of time has caused the ironwork below your feet to fracture and crack and also corrode thus weakening the bridge

[infliction9999]

i love this bridge and it should stay and i think it used to carry the great central over it it should stay it should be listed tbh i would like it to carry the railway or what ever it was designed for once again