Commercial Road Bridge/ Milton Road Bridge

Historic Map

Commercial Road Bridge, also known as Milton Road Bridge, replaced Black Bridge and sited 60 yards to the east of it. A wharf was situated on the south bank just east of this bridge.

Commercial Road Bridge was the only bridge in Swindon to exhibit any signs of architectural merit. With its elegant low bow arch, stone balustrades contrasting with the brickwork, and ornamental lamp posts at all four corners, it must have looked very attractive in its heyday.

Steps and slopes going down to the canal level were removed some time before 1960 and access from Milton Road fenced off. In 1977, steps at the Northwest corner were rebuilt to provide access to the Brunel Centre.

Both frontages of the brick arch were given an extra skin of new bricks in April 1981 and the old stone balustrades removed and replaced by concrete block and bricks.