Lady Wimborne Bridge

[1] Although the Southampton and Dorchester Railway through Wimborne was authorized before Sir John Guest, 1st Baronet of Dowlais (one of the greatest iron founders of the time, his ironworks being situated in Dowlais, South Wales) took ownership of Canford Manor in 1846,[2] later negotiations with the company (of which Guest was a director) led after his death in 1852 to the replacement of the original structure with another over what became the carriage drive to the house.

[3] The bridge was until recently attributed in the on-line version of the official listing to Charles Barry Jr, the highly regarded English architect of the mid to late 19th century, and eldest son of Sir Charles Barry, who was responsible for the design for the Lady Wimborne Cottages, serving as workers cottages on the Canford Estate.

[4] However the latter, renowned as the architect of the Palace of Westminster, was responsible for the extensive alterations to the manor around the time of the bridge’s construction and was in fact the designer.

[5] Its features are typical of the highly ornate gothic style, adorned with pinnacles, crocketting, crests and the heraldry of Sir (Josiah) John Guest.

Although the railway is long gone, steep steps allow pedestrians to climb the embankment to the top and follow a footpath to the river or, in the other direction, along an informal path towards the site of the former Wimborne Junction and engine shed.