3-003-836 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

View of the ruins of the Lendal Bridge, York, taken immediately after its fall, 1861. Engraving from a sketch by Mr. B. J. Moore. 'An accident of a fearful nature occurred at York yesterday week. It will be remembered by visitors to that city that the railway-station stands on the opposite bank of the river to the cathedral, with an inconvenient ferry to cross over at that point. It was proposed to erect an iron bridge there, consisting of four girders of iron, two to support a carriage-way, and two outer and lighter ones to support a footpath on each side. The two carriage girders were in their places; the two footpath girders were also brought to the spot, and one was in the act of being lowered to its proper position, when it toppled over, and fell on the inner girder; that after a few seconds fell on the next, till the whole mass was precipitated like a child's toyhouse on the ground and into the river. Five men were killed and some others were much injured'. From "Illustrated London News", 1861.