Attraction's 200-year-old bridge to be restored

A cast-iron bridge which has stood in one of Yorkshire's most cherished beauty spots for 200 years is being restored.

Cut Bridge, which runs over the River Dearne at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) in Wakefield, is being given a facelift with the help of a £250,000 grant from the Arts Council.

The Grade II listed structure, one of only five cast iron bridges left in the region, is severely worn and frayed.

The bridge provides a useful route for visitors to the park, which first opened in 1977 in the picturesque grounds of Bretton Hall, which was a teacher training college between 1949 and 2007.

Mark Chesman, head of estates and projects at the park, said: “The bridge is an integral part of the estate so the importance of this major restoration project can’t be underestimated.

"As part of our estate stewardship, YSP has a responsibility to maintain the Cut Bridge sensitively for future generations to use and enjoy, ensuring continued access to art, nature and our heritage."

Sections of the bridge have been partially repaired or replaced over the decades, but this is the first time a full restoration, including its cast iron fabric, has been undertaken.

The bridge will be closed while the work, which is expected to last three months, takes place.

Alternative routes are being signposted to visitors, walkers and riders.

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