Replacing the Hardwick Ford Footbridge

Said to be longest ford in Nottinghamshire, historic maps of the area show a crossing at this location since the late 19th century, however, it is likely that the ford is earlier than this.

The work, which is being managed by York-based Pinnacle Conservation Ltd, is expected to take around 12 weeks with all works being completed by the end of August.

The bridge will reopen to visitors from lunchtime on Friday 1 September.

The new bridge

Constructed from oak, the bridge components have been crafted here on the estate at Clumber Park by the National Trust In-house Specialist Crafts team. The bridge’s ironwork has been handmade by local Blacksmiths, Mather of Tibshelf.

Sections of the bridge will be transported from the workshop to Hardwick and the bridge will be pieced together on site. The new bridge will be much wider than the previous structure and will provide greater access for mobility vehicles, wheelchairs, cycles and buggies.

Please note: all cyclists and horse riders should dismount using the mounting blocks. Cyclists should walk their bike across the bridge. Riders should walk across the bridge while leading their horse through the water. For safety reasons, please do not cycle or ride across the bridge.

The importance of the time of year

Ecology plays a huge part in determining timings for a project like this, and there are many factors that must be taken into consideration during the planning stages.

June, July & August was identified as the optimum window to not only safeguard nature but to work alongside it successfully ensuring it is protected for future generations to enjoy.

Considerations

• Part of the ford will need to be dammed to direct water away from where work takes place. During the summer months, water levels are at their lowest so the flow of water is more easily controlled and the risk of flooding is minimised.
  
• The young eels that move upstream in early spring have now migrated to the top end of the lake and won’t be affected by the work taking place.
  
• The impact on nesting birds has been dramatically reduced. The Ranger team have been busy over recent months clearing reeds to discourage birds from nesting. If wildfowl had built their nests in this area, the start of the project would be delayed until after the nesting season. Once the bridge is in place, the reeds will grow back, water insects will recolonise and birds will return to nesting by the ford.

Mounting blocks

As horse riders must lead their horse through the ford, and not allow them to cross the bridge, there will be mounting blocks which sit at either side of the bridge.

Approximately 2380kg of stones will be used to construct the mounting blocks and the stone selected is Magnesian Limestone (Cadeby Bed 6) from Cadeby Quarry in Doncaster. The mounting blocks will be lifted with a combination of modern nylon lifting straps in conjunction with a very old lifting technique, believed to have been developed when the Egyptians were constructing the pyramids, using Lewis Pins.

The stone will be tooled on their exposed ‘sky surfaces’ to create a suitable surface to stand on.

Maintenance

While the bridge work is taking place, the contractors will also have the opportunity to repoint the cobbles which the ford flows across and rebuild the path and the ramp which sits up to the bridge.