2009 Workington floods

The surge of water off the fells of the Lake District which flowed into Workington down the River Derwent washed away a road bridge and a footbridge.

[1] As a result of the floods the central arch of Workington (or Calva Bridge) (built 1840) was left unsound and ready to collapse.

After the railway line was closed, it was used as a footpath and cycle way, linking the Northside community on the north of the river, to Workington's town centre.

New Bridge (built 1904) collapsed on the morning of 20 November 2009: it carried a major road from the Low Cloffocks to the north side of the river.

The bridge had been the subject of a Local Government Board Inquiry in 1903, which raised issues relating to its construction.

[7] Barker's heroic actions – going out onto the stone bridge on foot to direct traffic off it[8] – are honoured in a song named "Mr Rain The Tailor," by English singer-songwriter Reg Meuross.