Union Street Swing-Bridge - Western Dock Dover Kent UK - Moving Bridges on Waymarking.com

 The first swing-bridge was commissioned in 1846 by the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, none other that Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. As Lord Warden it also made him Chairman of The Harbour Commissioners. Much improvement work was being carried out to improve the harbour, including enlarging the tidal harbour and the building of new quays on the inner harbour. The swing-bridge was installed to provide access to The Pent (now Wellington Dock) from the tidal harbour. The swing-bridge (Wellington Bridge) construction was finished on 13th November 1846 and opened that very day by the Duke himself, who rode across it in his carriage.  In 1904 as a result of widening the entrance to Wellington Dock, a new iron bridge was built by Messrs Hunter & English at the cost of £4,738.

The present Union Street Swing bridge dates from the 1980's and is electric powered. When opened, it allows vessels to enter/exit  Wellington Docks (Dover Marina). When closed it is used by vehicular and pedestrian traffic to and from the Prince of Wales Pier, and laterly the Hoverport (closed in 2005). A small roundabout at the end of The Esplanade now allows vehicular/pedestrian access from the seafront, along Union Street, across the swing-bridge to join the busy A20 Snargate Street that leads to and from the Town centre and Eastern Dock.