Whale Bridge & Cetus Buildings

Image credit: Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. Artist: G. Puckey

Historic Map

Whale bridge was originally a stone arch road bridge, built between 1803 and 1804 for the canal company and then reconstructed to a flat span steel bridge in 1893 by the Swindon Corporation at a cost of £1200.

This bridge took its name from the nearby Whale pub, which in turn was named after the old Cetus or Whale buildings next door.

A Wharf was situated on the south bank, east of the bridge.

This bridge was demolished during the construction of Fleming Way in 1963.

Whale Bridge
Image credit: Swindon Museum and Art Gallery/ Art UK. Artist: G. Puckey. Note the bridge is made of stone before being reconstructed to a flat span steel bridge
Whale Bridge
Image credit & Artist: Ken White Whale Bridge
Whale Bridge

Image credit: Swindon Museum and Art Gallery/ Art UK. Artist: H.P. Ockwell

4.08.3 Swindon (242n)
1959, Swindon, Whale Hotel
4.08.4 Swindon (243n)
1959, Swindon, looking east from the parapet Whale bridge
4.07 Swindon (376n)
1961, Swindon, looking west at Whale bridge, Skurray's Mill on the left
4.08.2 Swindon (513n)
1962, Swindon, looking west at Whale bridge after destruction of Whale Hotel
4.08.1 Swindon (291n)
1960, Swindon, Whale Bridge, Whale Hotel & rear of the Cetus buildings
4.09 Swindon (244n)
1959, Swindon, looking east at Whale bridge, while standing on Queenstown/ Wellington Street Bridge
Man with a stick SU1584 38L
Image credit: Local Studies, Swindon Central Library. 1953, Man with a stick. Whale bridge/ hotel in the background. Interested children peering over the wall from the Cetus buildings
Man with a stick SU1584 38B
Image credit: Local Studies, Swindon Central Library. 1953 Man with a stick. Rear of Cetus building in the background
Front of the Cetus Buildings, Medgbury Road
Image credit: Local Studies, Swindon Central Library. Cetus Buildings, Medgbury Road just before the building was demolished in 1962
Plan of the Cetus Buildings, Medgbury Road (1of4)
Image credit: Local Studies, Swindon Central Library. Cetus Buildings, Medgbury Road drawing 1, just before the building was demolished in 1962
Plan of the Cetus Buildings, Medgbury Road (2of4)
Image credit: Local Studies, Swindon Central Library. Cetus Buildings, Medgbury Road drawing 2, just before the building was demolished in 1962
Plan of the Cetus Buildings, Medgbury Road (3of4)
Image credit: Local Studies, Swindon Central Library. Cetus Buildings, Medgbury Road drawing 3, just before the building was demolished in 1962
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