The Iron Bridge in Newport Pagnell was built in 1810 and is the oldest iron bridge still in daily use to traffic in the world
The bridge was designed and put together much like a stone or brick arch although the units were seperately cast pieces of iron
When it was first built it was used mainly by horse and cart and pedestrians
Before the bridge was built the town was divided in two by the river which could only be crossed at the ford
This bridge was due to be replaced by a concrete one, but public concern in 1967 saved it.
The bridge is now a Grade 2 ancient monument.
In recent times there was a weight restriction on traffic using the bridge - bollards were introduced temporarily
Foundations are18ft below the average water level and are based on rock strata. All sections of the bridge are held in place by gravity and structural forces
