Hundreds of people gathered at the iconic Ferry Bridge over the River Trent in Burton yesterday after it was officially reopened following a £1.3 million restoration. It has been more than two years of hard work by several organisations and has been hailed as a 'feather in the cap' for everyone involved.

Proud members of the Friends of the Ferry Bridge, Margaret Harrison, Carol Woolley, Pat Walton and Kim MacBeth, who helped raised money for replicas of the original plaques, released balloons on the bridge following opening speeches by leader of Staffordshire County Council Philip Atkins, whose authority spent £1.3 million on the revamp, and Councillor Julian Mott, a member of the Ferry Bridge Working Group.

Speaking to the crowd before the opening, Councillor Atkins said: "I have been over the bridge a few times to see the progress.

Kim MacBeth, Pat Walton, Councillors Peter Davies, Ron Clarke and Julian Mott and Carol Woolley
Kim MacBeth, Pat Walton, Councillors Peter Davies, Ron Clarke and Julian Mott and Carol Woolley

"Walkers and cyclists will use the bridge and you will be impressed at the results of the restoration which has been unlike anything the county council has carried out before.

"We were not prepared to let it become unsafe. I want to thank everyone involved because without your input we wouldn't get where we are today - without the Ferry Bridge Working Group, the county council, Amie highway engineers, Friends of the Ferry Bridge, Burton Civic Society, English Heritage, and staff at the borough and county councils.

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"As I walked down it reminded me that Ferry Bridge opened in 1889, declared toll free by Baron Burton, replacing the ferry service. It is an iconic structure, Grade II-listed and is no ordinary repair job. It has been a unique and painstaking project, strengthening of the piers, full grit blasting, repainting, installation of timber decking and handrails, strengthening of parapet and repairing deteriorating components.

"But they couldn't attach anything to the Ferry Bridge because it is Grade II listed."

George Lawson and his wife who helped create the replica plaques which now hang pride of place on the bridge
George Lawson and his wife who helped create the replica plaques which now hang pride of place on the bridge

After thanking the Friends of the Ferry Bridge for providing the replica plaques, he added: "This has been hard, collaborative work across a range of organisations. We are really pleased to carry out this scheme, restoring an iconic structure so it can be enjoyed for many generations."

Councillor Mott also thanked those involved before unveiling the four plaques which had been missing from the bridge for more than 60 years.

He said: "It is an exciting opportunity to see the bridge which has been renovated. We set up the Friends of Ferry Bridge Working Group two years ago and wouldn't have believed we would be here now."

The finished bridge with its new plaques, complete with its famous swans
The finished bridge with its new plaques, complete with its famous swans

After Councillor Atkins cut the ribbon to declare the bridge officially open, the Friends of the Ferry Bridge released the balloons and Burton's Leander Rowing Club took part in a row past as the crowds started to walk over the bridge.

Speaking to the Mail afterwards, Councillor Mott said: "When I was leader of the borough council in 2014 we were concerned about state of bridge and held a vox pop to see what people felt about bridge, what they liked about it and what they didn't. We started a working group, we met on regular basis and two half years later got it straight, and recognise how beautiful it is.

"I think it is brilliant now."

After he had been the first to walk over, Councillor Atkins told the Mail: "I was quite surprised at the turnout but from my days on the borough council I know how much the bridge means to Burton. I have been a few times and it has been a really complex task. It is really good to see it now."

Hundreds gathered for the ceremony to witness the reopening of the Ferry Bridge
Hundreds gathered for the ceremony to witness the reopening of the Ferry Bridge

Burton's county councillor Conor Wileman was also one of the first to walk over the bridge and said: "The turnout is amazing. There is potentially a thousand here. It is an iconic part of Burton, and so many organisations came together. It is a fantastic moment for Burton.

"I have been campaigning for a few years to make sure project stays on track with the county council so I am very pleased. Many residents have come to me to say we need to do something with the bridge."

The Mail also spoke to the Friends of the Ferry Bridge members. They said: "We are amazed at the turnout, we didn't think there would be a lot, but there has been a lot of interest. The bridge is stunning, brilliant. It was a good coming together of everyone involved."

The bridge's original engineers will have been proud of the renovations
The bridge's original engineers will have been proud of the renovations

One member, Pat Walton, added: "It was lovely to walk over, I am quite amazed at how many people came."

Another member Margaret Harrison said the bridge had been in such a bad condition before its restoration that she had put her foot through the walkway, and that it swayed in the wind.

The Mail also spoke to George Lawson who was the man behind the replica plaques and ensured they were brought back to their former glory and installed on the bridge. He said: "How I got involved is a bit of an accident. The bridge goes back a long way in my life. As a member of the Leander Rowing Club I used to row under the bridge, and we saw plaques taken off in 1969 and we were sad about that.

"An email came from the civic society for information on the bridge. My company took on responsibility to mould new plaques. The moulding and painting should last 100 years.

"We didn't think we could raise the money for the plaques before the Ferry Bridge was reopened so I underwrote the cost and paid all the manufacturers to enable them to erect it on the bridge before the scaffolding was taken down. We raised money through various donations so much so that the plaques were made and paid for and put on before the bridge was reopened."

The bridge's walkway has also been replaced, after representing a danger to pedestrians and cyclists
The bridge's walkway has also been replaced, after representing a danger to pedestrians and cyclists

Gerard Wilcox, president of Leander Rowing Club, said: "We were invited by the council to take part in a row past which were extremely pleased to do. We have been up and down and watched all the progress. We are absolutely thrilled."

Deputy Mayor of the borough council, Councillor Simon Gaskin, said: "It is a superb job, money well spent. It would have been a very sad loss had they not spent money on it and renovated it. It would have been left closed and dismantled. It is a feather in the cap for everyone involved."

Time Line

Reopening of the Ferry Bridge in Burton

  1. March 2014

    A group is formed following concerns that the Ferry Bridge has fallen into disrepair. The county council announced it would be carrying out restoration work to the supporting pillars on the bridge.

  2. April 2014

    The county council announces it is planning a complete refurbishment of the bridge.

  3. July 2014

    Work begins on the bridge.

  4. August 2015

    The Friends of Ferry Bridge claimed that council chiefs have refused to support its Heritage Lottery application because the original lion embellishments will not return to the bridge as they have either been lost or have disintegrated.

  5. September 2015

    Works begins on the £1.3 million revamp and the bridge closes.

    February 2016: The Ferry Bridge Working Group has applied for permission for the plaques to be returned to the bridge towers and the bridge is now two weeks behind schedule because of bad weather.

  6. February 2016

    The Ferry Bridge Working Group has applied for permission for the plaques to be returned to the bridge towers and the bridge is now two weeks behind schedule because of bad weather.

  7. June 2016

    Replica plaques are revealed during an opening ceremony at Coopers Square shopping centre.

  8. July 2016

    County council announces the bridge will open 'in the coming weeks' and donations pour in for the replica plaques.

  9. August 2016

    Friends of Ferry Bridge announce it has reached the £17,400 total to pay for the plaques and also announce the start of the search for the original towers.

  10. September 2016

    It is revealed the Ferry Bridge will re-open in mid-October.

  11. October 21 2016

    Ferry Bridge finally reopens.