Local volunteers give works to restore historic Braunston canal bridge a head-start

The works

The works are part of a wider project to repair and improve Bridge 91A at the entrance to Braunston Marina, made possible thanks to a generous legacy gift from a local resident.

After a thorough tendering process, we will soon appoint a contractor who will be on site in the spring restoring brickwork on the northern side of the bridge, which faces out onto the canal. While this process has been taking place the charity has enlisted the help of volunteers and members of the local community to carry out preliminary works. The team have been carefully removing loose mortar and crumbling bricks from the southern side of the bridge before starting repairs with reclaimed bricks and traditional lime mortar.

With the volunteers hard at work on site we have also been working to complete preliminary surveys, obtain the necessary listed building consents, source bricks and train the volunteer team.

Lime mortar can’t be used in colder temperatures so, with conditions becoming more wintery, the brickwork repairs are about to pause until the spring. Exposed brickwork will be covered in hessian over the winter to protect it from frost damage.  

As well as repairing the brickwork contractors will also be resurfacing the bridge deck with a resin bonded anti-slip surface, improving the approach ramps and cleaning the cast iron elements ready for volunteers to repaint them. The contractor works will take around five weeks and the intention is to have all works completed in time for the Braunston Historic Boat Rally in late June 2025.

In total 3,500 reclaimed bricks are expected to be used on the restoration and once repairs are completed the brickwork is set to be left exposed, without render or paint, taking the bridge back to its original design.

The project has been made possible thanks to a generous legacy of over £160,000 from the late waterways supporter and local resident Peter Andrews. On completion of the works the bridge will be renamed ‘Peter’s Bridge’. A new bridge number plaque, reading ‘91A, Peter’s Bridge’, will be fitted providing a lasting tribute to Mr Andrews’ generous gift to his local canal.

Making great strides

Linny Beaumont, our regional director for us, said: “The volunteers have made great strides in repairing sections of the bridge, and gaining valuable skills in heritage restoration along the way. The intention was always to put Mr Andrews’ very generous legacy gift to good use and bring in specialist contractors to complete some of the bigger aspects of the works. The volunteers’ efforts have helped tackle some of the preliminary works and put the project in a great position ahead of contractors getting on site. 

“With everything in place we’re looking forward to the main works starting in the spring as temperatures rise and seeing the final restored bridge providing a fitting tribute to Mr Andrews’ memory.”