In the year 1794 and 1795, a new
bridge, of three semicircular arches of stone, from the design
of the celebrated Paul Sandby, was erected, but, from some
defect in its construction, it lasted only five years, when it
was replaced by a very elegant bridge of one arch, of 180 feet
span, of cast iron, from the design of Mr. Thomas Wilson, the
architect of the celebrated bridge over the river Weir, at
Sunderland. The design was attributed to the noted author of the
_Rights of Man_; but the arch designed by him was cast in the
year 1790, by Messrs. Walkers, at Rotherham, whence it was
brought to London, and erected at the bowling-green of the
Yorkshire Stingo public-house, where it was exhibited to the
public; Paine not being able to defray the expense, the arch was
taken down and carried back to Rotherham; part of it was
afterwards used in the Sunderland bridge, and part, it is
supposed, in the Staines bridge. This last, like its immediate
predecessor, was not destined to last long, for it had scarcely
been opened one month, when it was found necessary to close it
to the public, the arch having sunk in a very alarming degree.
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