Perry Bridge

Perry Bridge
File:Perry Bridge.jpg
Coordinates
Carries	Now only pedestrian
Crosses	River Tame;
Locale	Perry Barr, Birmingham, England
Maintained by	Birmingham City Council
Characteristics
Total length	50 metres (164 ft)
Width	4 metres (13 ft)
History
Construction end	1711

Perry Bridge, also known as the Zig Zag Bridge, is a bridge over the River Tame in Perry Barr, Birmingham, England. Built in 1711, it is a Grade II listed building and a Scheduled monument.

The bridge was built, in the 18th century, of red sandstone in a packhorse style. It is believed that it is the bridge built by order of the Staffordshire Quarter Sessions, held in 1709, to take the place of a 'wood horse bridge' (Perry Barr was in Staffordshire until 1928). It is said to have been built by Sir Henry Gough. A bridge has been on the spot since Roman times as this was the exact spot where Ryknild Street crossed the river, however, today the road is known as Aldridge Road.

References to this crossing go as early as 1509 when there was a mention of a field, named Bridge Meadow, being located near Perry Bridge.

The bridge is 50 metres (164 ft) in length and 4 metres (13 ft) wide. The parapets on each side rise nearly 1 metre (3 ft). It is now open only to pedestrian traffic. It features on the badge of Handsworth Grammar School.

A replacement bridge, in Art Deco style, built in 1932, stands alongside, and carries vehicular traffic on the route.

References

• Birmingham City Council: Perry Bridge
• 1905 Staffordshire County Council warning sign
• British History Online: 1890 Ordnance Survey 1:2,500: Epoch 1