Here are some references that may be useful:
Hammond, Martin. Masonry skew-arch bridges. British Brick Society Information no.53, July 1991 pp 4-15
[important article primarily concerning the history of brick-built
railway examples’]
Chapman, William. Oblique bridges. In: Rees' Cyclopedia 1813
Nicholson, Peter. A popular and practical treatise on masonry and
stone-cutting. 1827
Buck, George W. A practical and theoretical essay on oblique bridges. 1839 etc
Spencer, H. Skew arches. Civil Engineer and Architect’s Journal vol.2, 1839 pp 164-165 [letter proposing
a method of design; Herbert Spencer was an engineer on Birmingham &
Gloucester Rly]
Bashforth, Francis. A practical treatise on the construction of oblique bridges. 1850
Thomas, R.H.G. The Liverpool & Manchester Railway. 1980 pp 54-55 [describes Rainhill Bridge]
A notable canal example is the very oblique bridge at Monkhide on the
Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal.
Matthew Searle
> I have a contact who is trying to find early 19th C skew arch bridges on
> the railways and any on the canals earlier than 1830. His interest arises
> from the magnificent skewed bridge in Rainhill and also the bridge in
> Whiston, which has recently been listed - both on the Liverpool to
> Manchester line built by George Stephenson in 1830.
>
> He is also interested in identifying the source of the stone and brick used
> to build these local bridges. Does anyone know if there are records of
> requisitions, accounts etc in existence for the Liverpool to Manchester
> line or where would the best place to start searching?
>
> I would be grateful for any pointers about these to pass on to him.
>
> Susan Major
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