Official opening of Victoria Bridge

Exactly 108 years to the day after Hereford’s well-known Victoria footbridge was opened, the landmark is to be officially re-opened following a £725,000 repair and restoration project.

The bridge was made available to the public a month ahead of schedule, on Wednesday, September 6, and has already attracted a lot of positive comments from users who approve of the return to the bridge’s original colour scheme.

Cllr John Edwards, Chairman of Herefordshire Council, will declare the bridge officially open at 2pm on Friday, September 29.

Dignitaries invited to the official opening include descendants of Augustus Edwards, the local businessman who was the prime mover in original proposals to build the bridge.

The Victoria Footbridge was built in 1898 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria the previous year and was formally opened on September 29 1898, by Lady Emily Foley, and was then handed over by the Bridge Committee to the Citizens of Hereford.

Before the footbridge was built a ferry, the Princess Mary, transported people across the river Wye at this point.

Cllr Brian Wilcox, Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation), said: “This project has not been without its problems – vandalism and high water levels following heavy spring rainfall could have held up progress – but I’m happy to say that despite this, work was completed ahead of time.

“The bridge is now restored, looks splendid and is again well used by the people of Herefordshire and visitors to the City.”

Cllr John Edwards, Chairman of Herefordshire Council, said: “It’s excellent timing to be officially re-opening this very important piece of Hereford City’s heritage.

“The history of the footbridge is fascinating and was recently the focus of a heritage open day at the Castle Green Training Centre. The exhibition attracted more than 500 visitors on the day and can now be seen on display at the Hereford City Library and Museum.“

The restoration work has been carried out to make the footbridge as close to the original as possible, but strengthening parts where necessary.

Restrictions on the way the work was carried out were applied as the River Wye is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation.

In addition the Environment Agency imposed a strict time limit for the work to be carried out.

The bridge will be temporarily closed for several minutes during the ceremony.