Buccleuch Dock Bridge.

Buccleuch Dock Bridge was a vital link connecting the whole of the north side of Ramsden Dock's rail system with the main line at Salthouse Junction. It traversed the docks system at the point where Buccleuch and Ramsden Docks meet. It replaced the earlier eighty feet wide swing bridge, built in 1879 - which replaced the earlier embankment.

The Barrow Island side of the bridge was built at a place known in Michaelson's day as Cunninger point. This small promontory jutted out into Barrow Channel to form a bay on its north side known as Welshman's Bay due its popularity with Welsh Skippers seeking sheltered waters while waiting for a berth to load iron ore at the town wharves.

The Cradle Bridge, more properly called a Highway and Railway Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge, was invented by an American Civil Engineer called William Scherzer. The Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge Company of Chicago, Illinois held the world patents on the design and a plaque to that effect was riveted to the finished bridge.

Erected by John Aird and Co, under the supervision of Furness Railway Engineer Sir Benjamin Baker, it was made from those old favourites; cast and wrought iron.

The contract specification drawn up in 1906 called for a single leaf bridge 110 feet long by 26 feet wide capable of fully opening in one minute, under normal conditions. This no mean feat was achieved by hydraulic power. Taking its supply at 650psi from a water main, each of the two hydraulic engines which were suspended under the operator's cabin that straddled the road and railway, produced 60hp at 350rpm. One engine was capable of lifting the bridge with the other in reserve and if all else failed, in a dire emergency the bridge could be lifted by hand. This new Barrow landmark was officially opened on 12th October 1908.

The closure of, first Millom and then Barrow Iron Works in the 60's reduced the need for imports of iron ore from Norway through Barrow. Contrast this with a century earlier where the growth of Barrow could not be achieved quickly enough to handle the export of iron ore for use elsewhere. The closure of Millom's iron works especially spelt the demise of the Cradle Bridge as all the ore travelled over this link to the main line and then to Millom. The Cradle Bridge was also the link from the main line to Shipyard Junction in Island Road. From a peak in World War I of four - ten coach trains a day, bringing workers from the surrounding area to zero when the trains were re-routed to Barrow Central Station. In 1966 the Cradle Bridge was declared unsafe and in December of that year it closed to rail traffic. There followed an ongoing wrangle between the Docks Board and British Railways over maintenance and repair costs, a matter of some £30,000. This was the last rivet in the bridge's coffin. So this magnificent structure went from cradle to grave in 65 years when it was demolished in 1971.

The work to widen the passage between Ramsden and Buccleuch Docks for the Trident class submarines has now obliterated any last sign of the Cradle Bridge's existence. Cunninger Point is no longer a point and Welshman's Bay consequently wouldn't provide shelter to a seagull.

In 1890, Joseph Fisher in his ''Popular History of Barrow,'' noted - "Mullet were plentiful" in Welshman's Bay. This was true even after the Cradle Bridge was built. Until 1989 large Mullet could often be seen under the wooden dolphins on the Buccleuch Dock side of the [now demolished] bridge. In one surreal episode, me & my mate Marshall fished for Mullet - using Polo Mints as bait, which he assured me Mullet loved; we almost caught one!! The latest bout of dredging seems once again to have frightened them off.

TOP: From the Barrow Island side

BOTTOM: Looking from the town side

A Workman’s train making its way from the junction

to the Cradle Bridge

Raised to allow the Almirante Saldanha, a Training Ship built for Brazil to pass through.

LEFT: The tragic HMS Vanguard in 1910.

She blew up at Scapa Floe in 1917 killing 843 of her crew.