River Trent and Bridges
A river runs through it
The River Trent around which the hamlet of Trentham and indeed Stoke-on-Trent was built, runs from north to south of The Trentham Estate on it’s eastern side. The two are inseparable!
It’s been an uneasy marriage, from the highs of Capability Brown utilising the River to feed Trentham Lake, to the lows of industrial pollution of the river leading to the abandonment of the estate by the Dukes of Sutherland in 1905.
Today, it’s a clear, serene river, with overhanging trees and its fish and other wildlife can be seen, if you look carefully from the bridge as you enter the garden. A favourite spot to play Pooh Sticks too!
Beneath the present river bridge are the footings of the world’s second oldest cast iron bridge, constructed in 1779, it was commissioned by the 2nd Lord Gower, then owner of the estate.
The spirit of pioneering bridge innovation has continued at Trentham with the contemporary bridge now spanning the Trent at the entrance to the gardens.
