Warrington Transporter Bridge
The animal centre is in the shadow of the disused Warrington Transporter Bridge (Transporter bridges are sometimes called ferry bridges or aerial transfer bridges. Passengers and cars don’t actually cross the bridge itself – they’re transported in a car or gondola suspended beneath it).
Working transporter bridges are a rare thing in England. Only two were ever built – in Middlesborough over the river Tees, and in Warrington over the river Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal. The Warrington bridge was built around 1904 and ceased operation around 1964 (the Tees Transporter Bridge is still functioning).
It is privately owned, has a span of 187 feet (57 metres), and it was built to connect the two parts of the large chemical and soap works of Messrs Joseph Crosfield & Son Ltd. It conveyed motor vehicles and railway wagons from a private branch leading off the former LNWR main line (North/Lancashire bank) to the part of Crosfield's works which is situated in a loop in the river Mersey (South/Cheshire bank).
This bridge is listed by English Heritage as Grade II* but presently it is on their Buildings at Risk Register because of its poor condition and deteriorating ironwork. It is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The bridge is preserved under a 50 year lease in possession of Warrington Borough Council (expires 2027) who are investigating funding sources including grant-aid with English Heritage.