Here are a list of Records for the Bridge

These records have been very kindly sourced from the Whitehaven Records Office and the County Records office in Carlisle. They are not complete, however as we find more information it will be made available here.

Calva Bridge aka Workington Bridge

Q1/18 Quarter Sessions Minute Book
Christmas Sessions 1839/40
Upon the motion of the Rev Henry Lowther, seconded by Mr Hoskins. Resolved that a Committee of five Gentlemen Mr Pocklington Mr Hoskins Mr Dickinson Mr Harris and Mr Lowther (three of them to be a Quorum) be appointed to receive plans and specifications from the Bridge Master for the building of the new Workington bridge and direct the Bridge Master to proceed without delay.

Q7/7 Public Order book
Christmas Sessions 1839/40
Ordered that a new bridge be built at Workington, and that Mr Pocklington, Mr Hoskins, Mr Dickinson,Mr Harris and Mr Lowther be appointed a Committee (three to be a Quorum) for superintending the building of such a bridge and that the Bridge Master proceed to furnish plans and specifications forthwith for their approval.
Ordered that a table of fees ,in conformity with the recommendation for the Finance Committee’s report be prepared by the Clerk of the Peace against the next Sessions, ready to be settled according to the requirements of the Act of Parliament.

[ Not sure if these two paragraphs are related but at alter date they have been linked by a line. The Bridge Master is Thomas Milton]

Midsummer 1841
Ordered that Mr Thomas Nelson have the material of the Workington Old Bridge, he removing the same at his own expense, as soon as the New Bridge is passable and open to the public, to the satisfaction of Mr Milton, but not sooner.

D/Hod 11/27
Workington Bridge dispute 1845

Case
In the year 1840 a certain bridge in the county of Cumberland called Workington Bridge and repairable at the expense of the county was so much in decay as to render expedient the taking down the whole of it which was accordingly done, and a new one built. The justices under the powers and provisions of the Act 43 Geo III Cap 59 Sec 2 directed the same to be built upon a new and more convenient site within the prescribed distance of two hundred yards of the old one, and the turnpike road leading thereto was at the same time diverted at the expense of the county. A question has since arisen whether the county is liable to repair the roads across and at each end of the new bridge for the distance of one hundred yards, or whether they are to be repaired by the Trustees of the Turnpike road.
Then opinion given

Will send photocopy of extracts from Q7/7 and DHod11/27

1847 Mannix and Whellan
1763 bridge had 3 narrow arches and replaced with a noble structure of 3 elliptic arches in 1840.

QF3/2
Account of County Stock,1841
Bridges Michaelmas 1840
Paid Stephen Toward, boring for the foundations of Workington new bridge
10 pounds 18 shillings 6 pence
Paid Thomas Nelson two instalments for building Workington Bridge
1506 pounds
Easter 1841 Paid Mr Nelson for stones for building Workington bridge
154 pounds 14 shillings and 11pence

QF3/3
Account of County Stock ,1842
Building and Repairing bridges
Paid to Mr Nelson on account of building Workington Bridge
800 pounds
Michaelmas 1841
[Paid William Peel for repairing Derwent Bridge and embankments - 12 pounds and 12shillings]
Paid Wm Dixon for the printing specifications etc for Workington bridge
17 shillings and 6 pence
Paid on account for building Workington bridge
2000 pounds
Christmas sessions 1842
Paid Mr Nelson on account of building Workington Bridge
1112 pounds
Easter 1842
Paid Mr Nelson on account of Workington bridge
300 pounds

QF3/4
Account of count stock, 1843
Christmas sessions 1843
Bridges
Paid Thos. Nelson on account of building Workington Bridge
100 pounds
The like for extra work to do
600 pounds

Next volume 1845 includes charge for six month’s repairing bridge paid to John Hogarth
‘Maintenace contract’ so probably listed regularly from now on. Also series of Disbursements /Vouchers from 1850’s to 1888 on quarterly basis

Photocopies of relevant pages sent.

All proceeds of this limited edition will be collected by the Helena Thompson Museum on behalf of the fund set up by the Cumbria Community Foundation for the benefit of the people of Workington who have suffered Flood damage in the recent storms.