Application for Ramsey Swing Bridge to be registered

Submissions must be made 22 January 2024

There's an application for Ramsey Swing Bridge to become a registered building.

If approved, it would restrict the demolition, alteration or extension of the bridge  in any way without the prior written consent of the Department of Environment.

The application, which you can find here, details the structure's history and includes photographs before it was built in the 1890s.

Prior to its construction, the only physical link across the Sulby River between the north and south areas of Ramsey was via the stone bridge on Bowring Road. 

Since its opening, the bridge has provided a second link, giving access from West Quay to The Mooragh and northern harbour area whilst still enabling maritime access to the Shipyard and inner harbour. 

The bridge was built by Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company of Darlington in 1892, having been commissioned by Ramsey Town Commissioners. 

The slewing ring was replaced in the 1970s, and various repairs to the metalwork were undertaken in the 1980s. 

An extensive refurbishment of the bridge was undertaken in 2013, which included replacement and realignment of the slewing mechanism and bearings. 

Standing just outside the Ramsey Conservation Area, the swing bridge represents a rare example of Victorian engineering, and helps to illustrate the town’s expansion during the 19th century.