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Picture
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Pictures of Blue Bridge from Cardindex, York Explore and Art Gallery, and York Press

​Blue Bridge History
In 1730, the tree-lined New Walk was laid out along the Ouse through St George’s Field as far as the confluence with the river Foss.  The walk was so popular that it was extended in 1738, with a new blue-painted timber lift-bridge over the Foss (you can see this bridge on Nathan Drake's drawing of New Walk, below). 
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In 1794 a larger swing bridge was built to allow boats to reach Castle Mills lock and beyond into the newly constructed  Foss navigation.  A hand operated lift bridge was installed in the late 19th century, very similar to the present structure,which was built in 1929. 

During 2020 the two spans of the bridge were lifted out by crane and taken away to be refurbished.  The bridge and railings were all repainted and the timber deck of the bridge was also replaced and covered by non-slip surfacing.
FFH member and artist Brenda Tyler made delightful watercolour sketches of the works, and has put them on cards which can be bought from Alligator Wholefoods in Fishergate.  To see Brenda's wonderfully atmospheric artworks click HERE


Until 1941, two Russian canons from Sebastopol ‘guarded’ the bridge, with a plaque recording the names of York men killed in the Crimean war (see pictures below)

The adjacent flood barrier was built in 1986, to prevent high water in the Ouse from flowing back into the Foss and flooding large areas of the city, the cause of so much misery in 1978 and 1982, and again when flood flows in the Foss overwhelmed the pumps at Christmas in 2015.  The original pumping station had eight massive electric pumps discharge up to 30 tonnes of water per second around the barrier into the Ouse.  Since the catastrophic 2015 flood, the building and pumps have been replaced so the total capacity is 50 tonnes of water per second.

Click on a picture to enlarge it, read the caption and open a slide show

The first Blue Bridge is just visible here on Nathan Drake's painting of New Walk in 1756, (York Art Gallery)
The Drawbridge 1888, by Van Gogh - This bascule bridge is very similar to the first Blue Bridge, seen on the 18th Century New Walk drawing
George Nicholson'r sketch of Blue Bridge in 1827 (York Art Gallery)
George Nicholson's sketch of Blue Bridge in 1831 (York Art Gallery)
Blue Bridge c.1900
Blue Bridge c.1900
Fishermen, c.1895 - picture York Explore
Blue Bridge c.1900
Blue Bridge c.1910 (note the plaque next to the nearest cannon. This listed the names of York men killed in the Crimea
The previous structure to the current bridge, perhaps around the time of the Great War. Note the steps leading to the bridge, where we now have ramps. Photo Private Collection
Blue Bridge being reconstructed in July 1929 (picture York Press)
Blue Bridge being reconstructed in July 1929 (picture York Press)
Constructing the cobbled landing area after installation of the new bridge in 1929. Photo York Press
A lonely sailor on empty rivers. c.1895. Photo York Explore
Humber Keels and Sloops at Blue Bridge Lane c.1910 (Photo: Imagine York)
Blue Bridge just visible in the floods of February 2020
Blue Bridge raised for the Arts Barge in 2016 Photo John Illingworth
Crane lifting out the bridge for repairs in June 2020. Photo York Press / Anthony Day