David Rowell & Co. was a company based in Westminster, London that fabricated wrought iron and wire rope, built suspension footbridges, and structural steel frame buildings. They were established in 1855 and closed in 1970.
History
The Company was formed by David Rowell in London in 1855 initially trading as a fencing business but diversifying into structural steel frame buildings. It built various bridges between 1903 and 1951. The Company was liquidated in 1970.David Rowell & Co. at Structurae database
Wire rope and wrought iron Surviving catalogues from 1885 describe David Rowell & Co. as "The Iron, Wire, Wire-rope and Fencing Company", while a catalogue from 1890 describes their strained wire fences and wrought iron gates. A tram shelter by the firm was built in the 1920s at Guildhall Square in Portsmouth. It was moved to Gunwharf Quays in 2003.Stephen Pomeroy, "Coach Companies", Portsmouth local history , viewed 2007-05-10
Bridges
Pickhill Meadows This bridge was built for Oliver Ormrod of Pickhill Hall, over the River Dee at Bangor-on-Dee in November 1903, at a cost of £640 to serve "cart traffic".David Rowell & Co., Invoice for Pickhill Meadows Bridge, 28 November 1903 It spans and is wide. It is currently owned by Ormrod Estates. The lower parts of the towers were concreted in the 1970s.
Foy
This footbridge over the River Wye at Foy, near Ross-on-Wye, was built in 1919. It featured in the British television series Survivors, in an episode titled "Gone Away" (1975)."Terry Nation's Survivors", Wyenot News , 19 April 2005, viewed on 2007-05-10
Bodie Creek Bodie Creek Bridge was built from 1924 to 1925 in the Falkland Islands, as part of a scheme to centralise sheep shearing at Goose Green. Costing £2,281, it was fabricated in London and shipped to the Islands. It spans and is wide, and was closed to traffic in 1997.
Queen's Park Designed by William E Barker, Queen's Park Bridge was built in Chester in 1923, at a cost of £5,650. It spans , and is supported from two diameter locked-coil cables, each capable of carrying up to 340 tons. It is founded on the north side on a 230-ton concrete block, and on the south side by anchoring into sandstone bedrock.
River Wharfe This bridge over the River Wharfe at Ilkley was built in 1934. The bridge is jointly owned by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and Yorkshire Water. Its finials were removed in 1972 when it was discovered that condensation below them was corroding the bridge cables. The bridge was refurbished in April 2001."Gilbert, 88, remembers - and old finials are saved", , 11 April 2001, viewed on 2007-05-10
Other bridges
Other bridges built by the firm include: Sands (Hikey), Swalwell, 1903Photos at bridgemeister.com Alum Chine, Bournemouth, 1903-4, renovated 1973, cost £480"The Chines of Bournemouth and Poole", Bournemouth Online , viewed on 2007-05-10Photos at bridgemeister.com Apley Park, 1905, also called Linley BridgePhotos at bridgemeister.comPhoto at Shropshire Star Fron Bridge Llandyssil Sparke Evans Park, Bristol Castle Footbridge, Shrewsbury, 1910, replaced 1951 Llanddetty Footbridge, Talybont-on-Usk, 1910. Replaced a ferry-boat. Derelict. Howley Bridge, Victoria Park, Warrington, 1912British Listed Buildings Builth Wells, 1922 Llanstephan, 1922 Porthill Bridge, Shrewsbury, 1922 Puente Orellana, El Rancho, El Progreso, Guatemala Arapuni Suspension Bridge, Arapuni (New Zealand), 1925 Daly's bridge, Cork, Ireland, 1927 Sapper's Bridge, Betws-y-Coed, 1930Photos at bridgemeister.com Gaol Ferry, Bristol, 1935Photo at GeographDetails of 2004 repainting Thames Ditton Island, 1936Photos of refurbishment Doveridge, 1946, replaced an 1898 bridge by Louis HarperPhoto at bridgemeister.com Festival Footbridge, Aberhafesp, 1951, built to celebrate the Festival of BritainJones, Rachael, "Aberhafesp" BBC Mid Wales Newtown Life undated, viewed on 2007-05-10 Glanammon, Ammanford, 1958Photo at bridgemeister.com
The Black Bridge, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, unknown build date Anotherheader.wordpress.com
Buildings A catalogue from the firm (possibly dating from 1873)Liliana Lolich, "The Industrial Heritage of Patagonia", XIII Congress of the International Committee for the Conservation of Industrial Heritage , September 2006, viewed on 2007-05-10 describes their ready-made steel and iron buildings, including a "timber-framed iron church" and "galvanized corrugated iron portable houses for home or abroad".David Rowell & Co., List , undated, viewed on 2007-05-10
References
External links Civil engineering heritage discussion list - search for David Rowell for more information Queen's Park: at bridgemeister.com River Wharfe: Photo at Dalesman magazine