Friday 24 June 2011

Menai Bridge, North Wales


The historic Menai bridge is one of the two links that connect the island of Anglesey to the mainland. This engineering masterpiece was designed by Thomas Telford and built between 1819 and 1826.

( Following the last post, you will observe that I am continuing my theme in this unofficially titled post "Menai 2".  This is a short architectural and photographic post)


Prior to the bridge being built, cattle were the main source of income on the island and had to be transported to the mainland by ferry.



In 1800 the geographical and political map was a little different and a Government Act was passed to improve links to Holyhead and Ireland which is where the idea for the bridge originally came from.


In 1893 the wooden elements of the bridge deck were replaced with steel and with the subsequent increase in traffic, the wrought iron chains were also replaced with steel ones in 1938.

Another link in the chain ...

... 900 of them !!


In more recent years, the bridge was strengthened, resurfaced and painted in 1999 and 2005.

Breathe in !!


Thomas Telford would never have dreamt that his bridge would have accepted traffic like this !!


I local man walking over the bridge asked me what I was doing as I was taking photos at unusual angles and he was interested to hear who might be seeing these. He told me that Thomas Telford didn't expect the bridge to last more than 20 years.


Following on from last post, you will realise that there wasn't a lot to do in Bangor in the evening so I took a trip along here later for the sunset which on this particular evening was a little disappointing.


My back up plan was a once in a lifetime opportunity to photograph the floodlit bridge. I wasn't happy with the above angle so....


I returned to the location I found by accident for the sunset viewpoint

25 seconds on a windy night !!

.... and another journey over the bridge again finishing off with my original location.

One of my work colleagues who likes to see my photographs and general photos of people always complains to me by saying " we never see any photos of you on your travels "......






12 comments:

  1. Brilliant photographs...........I wish I'd hung around to see it at night. Stunning it looks. Now we need to see the little CHapel on the island side.
    I think these are you best images yet.
    Word Verification is panit......I couldn't.

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  2. I think I should just stop reading your posts and those of Midwest to Midlands. The photos make me ache to go back to the UK!

    Stunning photos of that bridge in the evening. And I would have to have great confidence in the bus driver before I'd get on that bus!

    Surprised at that last photo. You're just a shadow of your former self. ;-)

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  3. Just by coincidence I am commenting after Judy above and her nice compliment:) When I first saw these bridge pictures I thought surely he is not driving across taking these! Great pics, wondering if you will be featuring some from Angelsey. We stayed a week there a few years ago before I got a better camera and there were some great scenes there.

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  4. I know that bridge well, we have been going to Anglesey for more years than I care to remember!! I did my CBT on the island and had to ride over it and back on the other bridge!!!. Love the photos, at least we get to see you in shadow:)
    Have a good week
    George and Jan xxx

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  5. Hi J thanks for visiting my blog :-)

    I love your photos of the Menai Bridge. You seem to have visited so many similar places to me.

    I have many holiday pictures yet to post from the 'Secret Kingdom' including some of a very interesting bridge which I had to navigate my car accross ;-)

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  6. I love the sunset pics. Great color. Nice to see a self portrait! lol

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  7. Fantastic night shots. I've got to try more tripod work.

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  8. Small town - great bridge - awsome pictures!
    The Menai Bridge is not just a bridge, it is a sophisticated structure, and you've done a good job telling us the story of that bridge in detailed pictures and a minimum of words.

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  9. A very nice series of photos. I like the 3rd one and the night pictures.

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  10. This photo series and the history is great. We wonder what some of our predecessors would think of what's become of their work? This guy would be impressed.

    Darryl and Ruth :)

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  11. Very good your post !!
    I liked tour wonderful photos :)

    Bye**

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  12. Beautiful nighttime bridge photos! And terrific self photo- exactly what I pictured you to look like... : )

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