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NOTTINGHAM PAST & PRESENT: THE CANAL
CARRINGTON STREET BRIDGE, and CANAL, 1901
This sketch drawn from the south bank of the canal shows us the old Carrington Street bridge which preceded the modern structure. Its graceful arch is reminiscent of Trent Bridge and it did its work well and carried the traffic of its day nobly. However, the girder bridge which has taken its place is more suitable for modern heavy traffic than the delightful bridge that Mr. Hammond shows us. Carrington Street was not formed until 1829 and for long after that it only stretched as far South as the present London, Midland and Scottish Railway Station. Until Arkwright Street was formed all the traffic along Carrington Street turned down Queens Road and joined the main stream of traffic along London Road.
A little to the west of the point from which the picture is drawn was situated the Navigation Inn on Wilford Road, the Ultima Thule of our forefathers, for it marked the limit of bricks and mortar, and all beyond it was open country—the Meadows so dear to the hearts of bygone generations. The Navigation Inn was used as a sort of port, for from it were run a series of passenger boats on the canal. Boats ran to Cromford, then a very important manufacturing town, twice a week; the fare was five shillings first class or three shillings second class; to Leicester the first class fare was five shillings while the second class was two and sixpence. I have never been able to find the reason for the difference of sixpence in these two second class fares; the first class was the same in each case.