Whale Bridge & Cetus Buildings

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. This bridge was originally made of stone before being reconstructed to a flat span steel bridge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

Whale Bridge
1885 OS 1:500 map showing original stone bridge, use transparency slider to transistion to 1899 OS 25" map showing replacement steel bridge. Historic Map
Skurray's Mill
Image credit: The Swindon Society. Between 1893-1904, Skurray's Flour Mill, looking east from Whale 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
Whale Bridge
Image credit: Local Studies, Swindon Central Library. 1953, Whale Bridge, looking towards the County Ground, this is now Fleming Way
4.08.3 Swindon (242n)
1959, Swindon, Whale Hotel
Colourised
4.08.4 Swindon (243n)
1959, Swindon, looking east from the parapet Whale bridge
Colourised
4.09 Swindon (244n)
1959, Swindon, looking east at Whale bridge, while standing on Queenstown/ Wellington Street Bridge
Colourised
4.08.1 Swindon (291n)
1960, Swindon, Whale Bridge, Whale Hotel & rear of the Cetus buildings
Colourised
4.07 Swindon (376n)
1961, Swindon, looking west at Whale bridge, Skurray's Mill on the left
Colourised
Whale Bridge
Image credit: Local Studies, Swindon Central Library. 1953, Whale Bridge, looking north
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 (4of4)
Image credit: Local Studies, Swindon Central Library. Cetus Buildings, Medgbury Road drawing 4, 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 (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 (3of4)
Image credit: Local Studies, Swindon Central Library. Cetus Buildings, Medgbury Road drawing 3, just before the building was demolished in 1962
4.08.2 Swindon (513n)
1962, Swindon, looking west at Whale bridge after destruction of Whale Hotel
Colourised
BW200-1-12-6-1
Image credit: Courtesy of National Waterways Archive, Canal & River Trust. Summer 1964, Swindon, Whale bridge looking west.
BW200-1-12-6-0
Image credit: Courtesy of National Waterways Archive, Canal & River Trust. Summer 1964, Swindon, Whale bridge looking west.
BW200-1-12-6-2
Image credit: Courtesy of National Waterways Archive, Canal & River Trust. Summer 1964, Swindon, Whale bridge looking east.
Whale Bridge
Whale bridge pavement engraving
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