Bridge

The bridge was built in 1884/5 when Windsor Gardens was extended southwards. It crossed the dingle that led from Marine Parade to the beach and can be seen in early postcards of Windsor Gardens and the Penarth Yacht Club.

Windsor Gardens bridge

The original wooden bridge joining the two halves of Windsor Gardens (date unknown)

Soon after the Council took over Windsor Gardens the condition of the bridge was cause for concern. The Penarth Times reported in March 1937: [1]

The timbers of Windsor Gardens bridge are so rotten that a knife can be plunged with ease into the wood. This was the condition reported to the Council last week by the Surveyor. He said the bridge was definitely unsafe in its present condition, the buttresses of the structure being the only sound timbers. Should a large party of folk cross over it anything might happen. The whole bridge might easily collapse, causing a great disaster. If the Council were not a position to spend money on reconstruction or a new bridge, he advised closing the bridge before visitors came along on the holiday time. Reference was made to Mr. G. Hallett's scheme of a new bridge for a King George V. Memorial suggestion, and Mr. Morse said the approximate cost of a steel structure would be £400.

The same report stated that in the view of the Parks Committee, the bridge:

should be removed all together, and the Gardens divided into two sections, with an additional entrance gate at the side of the Yacht Club. ... It was considered a waste of money to repair the present wooden structure, and far too costly to erect a steel bridge.

At a meeting of the Council on 7th April 1937 the Surveyor was instructed to "obtain tenders for the purchase of the railings forming part of the old bridge at Windsor Gardens and other available scrap."

Sources of information

  1. Penarth Times 11th March 1937