Rewley Road Swingbridge – Restoration

Following the completion of the enabling works package back in 2019, Avon Construction have now commenced the restoration works contract for Oxford Preservation Trust. The aim of the contract being to restore this scheduled monument and to remove it from the Buildings at Risk Register.

The rotating railway Swingbridge which dates back to 1850, sits on the north bank of Sheepwash Channel and would be manually operated to rotate over the channel to allow railway carriages to pass over the waterway.

The restoration package site works commenced in November 2020 carrying out the site setup and bridge strip off works. The contract works were interrupted from January to March 2021 due to site flooding, but works quickly recommenced with the bridge being jacked up by 1m to allow for the blasting and painting works to take place.

The Swingbridge currently sits in the tented environment with new metalwork components being installed ready for the mid and top coats of paint being applied, before being lowered back down to its original height to allow for the railway components to be reinstalled. Works are due to continue on site until August 2021.