Wexford Bridge crosses the River Slaney, joining Wexford Town’s quay front with Ferrybank. Engineers built the current 383-metre crossing in 1997 after the previous bridge showed signs of corrosion. The current bridge is the third version to be built at the quay. Previous versions include:
- First version: 1795 to 1866. A wooden bridge made of oak.
- Second version: 1959 to 1997. Built to replace the original crossing.
- Third version: 1997 to present.
An American engineer from Boston, Lemuel Cox, built the wooden 1795–1866 bridge. It was 474 metres long and made of American oak.
The bridge gained notoriety in the late 1700s when it was used as the execution spot for those involved in the 1798 Rebellion. Those executed on the bridge included Cornelius Grogan of Johnstown Castle, Bagenal Harvey, and John Henry Colclough. Both Grogan and Colclough had invested money in the bridge’s construction. Records from the time show that Grogan contributed £1,000 and Colclough contributed £500. After his execution, Colclough’s headless body was taken from the bridge and buried in the grounds of St. Patrick’s Church, which sits at the end of High Street.
Loyalist soldiers faced a similar fate at the bridge during the same rebellion. A large number of them stood trial in Wexford Town. After the trials, they were marched to the bridge, where executioners piked them to death and threw their bodies into the River Slaney. These executions occurred while the majority of the United Irish leadership was out of town, occupied with battles and skirmishes elsewhere.
In 1827, a section of the bridge collapsed. It was quickly repaired at a cost of about £6,200. Until 1851, the bridge operated as a toll bridge and farmers bringing corn to the town were forced to pay a fee. This toll fee ultimately led to the creation of an alternative corn market at Castlebridge, which performed so well that it threatened the viability of the corn market in Wexford Town.
In addition to the successive bridges at the quay, a separate crossing called New Bridge existed between Carcur and Crosstown from 1866 to 1959. On an old Ordnance Survey map from the 1800s, it was labelled “New Bridge” and connected “New Road” (later renamed Redmond Road) with Crosstown. The map also notes the existence of a drawbridge in the middle.
While New Bridge was in use, a ferry also crossed the river between Ferrybank and Wexford Quay, with a pier on each side of the River Slaney. This ferry followed the same route that the current bridge crosses today.
In 1922, during the Irish Civil War, the largely wooden crossing between Carcur and Crosstown was destroyed by fire. According to the Wexford Civil War Archaeology project, the drawbridge and two adjoining spans were set alight, leaving a gap of about 90 feet. The project drew on county council minute books from July 1922 and contemporary newspaper reports. The damage was later estimated at £1,400. When men later repaired the bridge, anti-treaty forces shot at them, threatened them, and ordered them to leave the area.
By 1932, it had become clear that New Bridge was in an unsound condition. Signs were erected informing motorists that they needed to restrict their speed while crossing. It was estimated that £5,000 would be required for its reconstruction.
In 1938, the national press reported that the bridge was in a dangerous condition and had been closed to vehicles over two tons in weight. The bridge was considered incapable of carrying modern traffic, as the tie bars were too light to support the beams. It was recommended that crossing vehicles maintain a walking pace and that the bridge be inspected on a daily basis. In response, Labour Party politician Brendan Corish TD proposed that a new bridge be built between Ferrybank and the courthouse at Wexford Quay.
The bridge was demolished in 1959 because of its inability to handle a continuous rise in traffic levels. Wexford County Council constructed a newer bridge in the same area as the original 1795-1866 crossing. Local officials saw its construction as a sign that Wexford’s fortunes were beginning to change for the better.
The remnants of the crossing remain visible at the entrance to the Wexford Boat Club.
In 1997, the bridge was rebuilt after engineers noticed signs of corrosion on the reinforcement and prestressing anchors. Barry & Partners designed the 1997 bridge, which consists of a composite concrete slab and a deck made of steel girders. Ascon Ltd undertook the reconstruction, which took ten weeks to complete.
Related: Photographs of Wexford.