Description and History of Site:-
Built as a toll bridge in 1826-7 at the seaward end of 'The Valley' or Rams Bale, to improve communication between
Scarborough town and the area to south. Originally known as Cliff Bridge, the bridge is now restricted to pedestrian use. The bridge which has a total length of 414ft (126.2m) comprises of four identical arches each made up of four cast-iron ribs with spans of 66ft (20.12m) and carried a 22ft (6.71m) roadway. The piers of panelled ashlar with limited moulding to the capitals. The bridge was widened in 1880.

The bridge is said to have been designed by John Outhett with construction by Stead, Snowden and Buckley. It is however more probable that Outhett only acted as the resident engineer and that the bridge was designed by the iron founders. In this the bridge has many similarities to the other early cast-iron bridges in the West Riding at Newlay, Walton, Bretton and Sowerby Bridge and contemporary reports suggest that it was cast at the Shelf Iron Works shortly after it had been taken over Low Moor. The toll house was built in 1845 and the toll remained in place until the bridge was bought by the Corporation in 1951.

Hatcher commented that:- On tall slender stone piers with tall Norman openings. Rusticated stone with ashlar dressings. Construction of the bridge was promoted by Richard Cattle a Goldsmith from York who was Lord Mayor of York in 1840/41 and died in 1844.

Further Reading and References:-
Rennison R W, Civil Engineering Heritage Northern England, Thomas Telford, 1991 page 142, ICE HEW211YAS
Hatcher Card Index. Research funded by the Yorkshire Arts Association 1972
Scarborough and District Archaeological Society - Industrial Archaeology - Area 1 1974
Historic Scarborough plate 20; 12. Rowntree 1931 Fig. 82
Cossons N & Trinder B, The Iron Bridge, 2nd Ed, 2002

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Key Words :- four arch cast iron road bridge

Viewing the Site :- Can be viewed from the public footpath

Address :- Spa Bridge, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 2HA
Grid Ref :- TA 04380 88245
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.279198 , Long -0.398353
Local Authority :- Scarborough Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - North Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1242898,
Site Condition :- Operational site, in use for original purpose
Site Dates :- 1827 - Current
Record Date :- 5 June 2015

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