PICTURE STORY: Twyford Wharf canal bridge hit by vehicle again

In the space of a little over a year the 200-year-old bridge between Adderbury and King Sutton has once again been damaged by traffic.
Twyford Wharf Bridge, Banbury, damage. NNL-161025-124313009Twyford Wharf Bridge, Banbury, damage. NNL-161025-124313009
Twyford Wharf Bridge, Banbury, damage. NNL-161025-124313009

The Grade II-listed structure at Twyford Wharf was struck by a vehicle on the evening of Wednesday, October 19, knocking a large part of its wall to the ground below.

A spokseman for Oxfordshire County Council, which is in charge of the county’s highways, said: “The parapet of the bridge was damaged last Wednesday night.

“It has been fenced off and will be repaired in due course and we will seek to recover the costs of the repairs if possible from those responsible.

Twyford Wharf Bridge, Banbury, damage. NNL-161025-124405009Twyford Wharf Bridge, Banbury, damage. NNL-161025-124405009
Twyford Wharf Bridge, Banbury, damage. NNL-161025-124405009

“The bridge structure itself is still sound and able to carry traffic.”

In September of last year the bridge was struck by a farm vehicle, although the damage was less visible.

Due to the historic nature of the bridge the repairs will be undertaken by experts from both Cherwell District Council and OCC.

A CDC spokesman said: “Because it is a listed building, OCC is now co-ordinating with Cherwell’s design and conservation team to develop the plan for repairs.”

There are currently no restrictions on the number or size of vehicles using the single lane stone bridge.