These pages were set up to provide information about the Pike Bridge project which was organised by the Cotswold Canals Trust as part of its contribution to the restoration of the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames & Severn Canal in 2005. These pages remain available for interest only and aspects of them may be out of date due to the passage of time.

The main partners involved in the reconstruction of Pike Bridge were Ringway, Halcrow, Gloucestershire County Council and the Cotswold Canals Trust.

Pike Bridge was officially opened by Mavis. Lady Dunrossil, Chairman of Gloucestershire County Council, in the presence of a crowd of about 200 people on Saturday 10th September at 3:30pm.  PICTURES OF THE OPENING

The main funders were the Countryside Agency (Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund), Stroud District Council, Gloucestershire County Council, the Inland Waterways Association and the Cotswold Canals Trust  but many other charitable trusts and individuals contributed to the project.

Whilst the bulk of the physical work was carried out by Ringway, the contractor, some task were carried out by volunteers and included repairs to the channel walls and towpath as well as the construction of the stone block retaining wall in the garden to the north west of the bridge.

Pike Bridge in about 1928

The Location Page gives details about the location of this project and how it relates to existing and planned restoration projects along the canal.

The History Page gives the history of Pike Bridge itself and the canals from their construction in the 18th century to their eventual closing in the 20th century and the progress towards their restoration.

The Technical Page shows how Pike Bridge was rebuilt in such a way as to preserve, expose and incorporate the extensive remains of the earlier bridges which were known to have survive under the infilled road crossing.

The Picture Page gives access to pictures of Pike Bridge in its various guises and the surrounding area as well as pictures of the work  rebuilding the bridge.

The Background Page says more about the Pike Bridge Project, how it was funded and sets it within the context of the Cotswold Canals Partnership and the extensive restoration work which is scheduled to take place nearby following the decision of the Heritage Lottery Fund to assist in the £25m project to re-open the canal from Stonehouse to Brimscombe Port.

The Contacts Page gives details of who to contact with regards to this project.

The Links Page provides links to additional web sites containing information about, and pictures of, the Cotswold Canals.  

You can also try downloading the video of the bridge being knocked down in 1970 by going to the Video Page .