Hanging Bridge
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Map showing the location of Hanging Bridge within Greater Manchester.
Hanging Bridge is a medieval bridge built over Hanging Ditch and is now in the basement of the visitor centre of Manchester Cathedral (grid reference SJ8385498696). It is listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[1] The bridge spanned Hanging Ditch, a ditch which connected the River Irk and the River Irwell.[2] The first reference to the bridge was in 1343, but the bridge currently in the visitor centre was built in 1421, replacing an earlier structure.[1] The bridge has two arches and was built using sandstone from Collyhurst.[1] Hanging Bridge formed part of Manchester’s medieval defences. During the medieval period, it was the main route from Manchester to the cathedral, which was then a parish church.[1]
