As you come up to this spot, look straight ahead and you’ll spot the Porthill Bridge-it’s that old-fashioned, green metal bridge with its tall decorative towers and crisscrossed metalwork rising up above the pathway. It’s slimmer than a car bridge, just wide enough for pedestrians, and you might notice the thick cables running up and over the top, giving it that classic suspension-bridge look. The bridge stretches ahead of you, inviting you across the River Severn. Just to your right if you glance around, you’ll see the lovely green swathes of the Quarry, and on the left, the cheerful Boathouse pub nestles by the bank.
Now, let’s pause and soak in some of the charm! Imagine you’re back in the early 1920s, when folks were eager to get across the river but had only a small ferry to rely on-sometimes your day depended on the boatman’s breakfast mood. Then along came this bridge, placed here in 1922 by David Rowell & Co, and suddenly you could stroll from Porthill to town without puddle-soaked shoes or waiting in the cold for a ferry.
But even now, more than a hundred years later, the bridge still wobbles under your feet. Don’t worry, it’s not about to drop you in the river-this odd little shake has become part of its character! Locals say it jiggles like a jelly when folks cross, some even delight in hopping up and down just to feel it shiver a bit more.
If you could peel back history’s layers, you’d see the cable attachment post still standing on the north bank-a quiet reminder of all the hands that built and rebuilt this spot. During the big refurbishment in 2012, the bridge even went back to its roots for a while: a ferry carried folks across the water, just like the olden days, though a ride would set you back a princely 50p now.
This is a bridge that laughs at formality. You’ll see joggers, dog-walkers, and maybe even a duck or two that’s lost its way. You can feel the breeze off the Severn, hear the laughter from the Boathouse garden, and, if you’re lucky, you might catch a waft of roast dinner on a Sunday.
So go on, march out onto the Porthill Bridge-embrace the bounce, wave to a passing runner, and imagine all the stories this lively walkway has witnessed. Just keep your footing… and if the bridge starts humming, you’ll know you’re truly walking in Shrewsbury style!
