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Godmanchester Chinese Bridge is a Grade IIListed building[1] andlandmark of the town ofGodmanchester,Huntingdonshire (now administered as part ofCambridgeshire,England). It is apedestrianbridge that spans a mill stream on theRiver Great Ouse and is, as the name suggests, built in an ostensiblyChinese style. The original was constructed in 1827 to designs by thearchitectJames Gallier, but the wooden span fell into a bad condition and was replaced with a replica by the local council in 1960.[2]
The origins of the bridge are somewhat unusual. "Chinese Chippendale" had been a fashion of the mid-18th century, a time when the town was building amansion for theReceiver General of Huntingdonshire by the river.Island Hall had included a rather smaller Chinese bridge, linking it to an ornamental island. It seems likely that this served as the inspiration for the public bridge several decades later – its whitetimbers are also in the Chinese Chippendale style.
The wooden span of the bridge was removed by crane on Tuesday 9 February 2010. Areplica, built in Yorkshire by CTS Bridges, was put into position on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16 February.
The bridge was the principal subject for the song "Godmanchester Chinese Bridge"[3] by The Howl & The Hum[4]
52°19′09″N0°10′33″W / 52.31926°N 0.17582°W /52.31926; -0.17582
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