Identity area
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Title
Date(s)
- c.1864 - 1868 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 stereoscopic photograph mounted on yellow card
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Francis Bedford initially worked as an artist and lithographer before taking up photography in 1853. He received several Royal commissions and was the first photographer to be appointed on a Royal Tour in 1862. From the late 1850s onwards he produced numerous stereoscopic photographs which documented important sites from across Britain. These were popular and sold in their thousands. Sometimes his wife and two sons feature in his topographical photographs.
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Scope and content
No. 1290.
This view shows the locks to the Cumberland Basin. A swivel bridge, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, can be seen open by the South Entrance Lock (seen on the right in the photograph). The swivel bridge was in operation by 1849 and was turned by a hydraulic mechanism.
On the North Entrance Lock (seen on the left of the photograph) is another swivel bridge designed by the dock’s engineer, Thomas Howard and based on Brunel’s design. This swivel bridge was operational by 1864, but was removed sometime between 1868 and 1870 when Howard’s new North Lock was being built. It was re-erected at Bathurst Basin. In 1872-1873 Brunel’s swivel bridge was shortened and moved to the North Entrance Lock.
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Note
This item has been conserved and digitised with thanks to The Murless Fund (SANHS).