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{{confuse|Magdalene Bridge}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox Bridge
|bridge_name = Magdalen Bridge
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'''Magdalen Bridge''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɔː|d|l|ᵻ|n}} spans the divided stream of the [[River Cherwell]] just to the east of the City of [[Oxford]], [[England]], and next to [[Magdalen College, Oxford|Magdalen College]], whence it gets its name and pronunciation.<ref name="hibbert">{{cite book | title=[[The Encyclopaedia of Oxford]] | publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan]] | chapter=Magdalen Bridge | year=1988 | page=230 | isbn=0-333-39917-X | editor-last=Hibbert |editor-first=Christopher |editor-link=Christopher Hibbert }}</ref> It connects the [[High Street, Oxford|High Street]] to the west with [[The Plain, Oxford|The Plain]], now a [[roundabout]], to the east.
==
This point of the Cherwell has been used for crossing since ancient times. The first known reference to a bridge goes back to 1004 and originally it was probably a wooden trestle construction or a drawbridge.<ref>Jaine, T.W.M. (1971). [http://oxoniensia.org/volumes/1971/jaine.pdf ''The building of Magdalen Bridge, 1772–1790''] (PDF), ''[[Oxoniensia]]'' xxxvi, p.59.</ref> By the 16th century a late medieval stone bridge had replaced the wooden one. This bridge was about {{convert|1500|ft}} long and was formed by 20 arches.<ref>Steane, John (1997).
By the 1770s, the stone bridge was too narrow for the increasing traffic, as it did not allow two vehicles crossing safely. In addition to this, the structure was becoming unsound due to the combination of two factors: a generalized lack of maintenance and the negative effects of regular flooding. Eventually some of the arches of the western side collapsed during the floods of February 1772, making the bridge irreparable.<ref>Jaine, T.W.M. (1971). [http://oxoniensia.org/volumes/1971/jaine.pdf ''The building of Magdalen Bridge, 1772–1790''] (PDF), ''[[Oxoniensia]]'' xxxvi, p.60&61.</ref>
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==The new bridge==
[[File:Magdalen Bridge central elliptical arch.jpg|thumb|left|Upstream view of the central area of the bridge, including the elliptical arch.]]
The present stone bridge was designed by [[John Gwynn (architect)|John Gwynn]] of [[Shrewsbury]] with a similar length to the previous one. It has a total of 11 arches of different dimensions distributed as follows. For each of the two branches of the river there are three large semicircular arches plus two smaller ones at each side of the river, originally designed for the towpaths. A central elliptical arch, the only existing in the long central area across the island, completes the structure. This arch only conveys water when the island gets submerged. The original plans of the bridge are in the British Library, 1802 c.17, vol.2, and King's Maps xxxvi, 33 (1).<ref>[[Howard Colvin|Colvin, Howard]] (2008). [https://books.google.com/books?id=CSyaO-MqYoAC&
The bridge, built between 1772 and 1790 by John Randall, originally had a width of {{convert|27|ft}}, which accommodated a single roadway and two pavements. Although the bridge was opened to traffic by the end of 1778, a new scheme for the balustrade and the completion of the south western corner were not finished until 1782 and 1790 respectively.<ref>Jaine, T.W.M. (1971). [http://oxoniensia.org/volumes/1971/jaine.pdf ''The building of Magdalen Bridge, 1772–1790''], [http://www.oahs.org.uk/oxof.php Oxoniensia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324165308/http://www.oahs.org.uk/oxof.php |date=2010-03-24 }} xxxvi, p.70.</ref>
Gwynn's original design included an extravagant decoration for the balustrade with sculptures and sphinxes that were commissioned to [[Henry Webber]] in 1778 but eventually abandoned in 1782.<ref>Jaine, T.W.M. (1971). [http://oxoniensia.org/volumes/1971/jaine.pdf ''The building of Magdalen Bridge, 1772–1790''], [http://www.oahs.org.uk/oxof.php Oxoniensia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324165308/http://www.oahs.org.uk/oxof.php |date=2010-03-24 }} xxxvi, p.69.</ref> According to [[Nikolaus Pevsner|Pevsner]], the bridge has "good sturdy balusters", although these have been replaced over the years because of degradation due to pollution.<ref>Sherwood, Jennifer and [[Nikolaus Pevsner|Pevsner, Sir Nikolaus B.L.]] (1974). ''The Buildings of England: Oxfordshire'', [[Penguin Books]], p.311, {{ISBN|0-14-071045-0}}.</ref>
Despite opposition from [[University of Oxford|University]] members, the bridge was widened in 1882 to accommodate a four-foot gauge track for the tramway.<ref>Skinner, Annie (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=PERizR8zleIC&
==
[[File:Magdalen bridge.jpg|thumb|right|[[Punt (boat)|Punting]] at Magdalen Bridge.]]
The bridge is the scene of large crowds every 1 May early in the morning for the traditional [[May Morning]] celebrations in [[Oxford]]. There has been a recent tradition of students to jump off the bridge, despite the danger of injury due to low water levels in the Cherwell. In some years many jumpers have been injured and, in order to avoid this, the bridge is now routinely closed on May Morning.<ref>{{cite web | title = Five in hospital over bridge jump | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/4503027.stm| publisher = [[BBC]] | date = 2005-05-02 | accessdate = 2009-04-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = May Day bridge closure defended | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/8008768.stm | publisher = [[BBC]] | date = 2009-04-21 | accessdate = 2009-04-21}}</ref>
==Literature==
Magdalen Bridge was mentioned by [[John Betjeman]] (1906–1984) in his poetry:<ref>{{cite book| first=Frank | last=Delaney | author-link=Frank Delaney | title=Betjeman Country | series=[[Paladin Books]] | publisher=[[Granada Publishing]] | date=1985 | chapter=Oxford | page=74 | isbn=978-0-586-08499-1 }}</ref>
{{quote|
The [[River Cherwell|Cherwell]] carried under Magdalen Bridge<br/>
Its leisure [[Punt (boat)|puntfuls]] of the fortunate<br/>
Who next term and the next would still some back.
}}
It is also mentioned in the 1911 novel ''[[Zuleika Dobson]]'' by [[Max Beerbohm]] (1872–1956).<ref>{{cite book| title=Zuleika Dobson | first=Max | last=Beerbohm | author-link=Max Beerbohm | url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1845/1845-h/1845-h.htm | publisher=[[Project Gutenberg]] | date=1911 | accessdate=30 July 2022 }}</ref>
==Gallery==
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{{reflist}}
==
{{commons category|Magdalen Bridge}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060315235732/http://www.cintec.com/en/casehist/bridges/bridge07.htm Magdalen Bridge, Oxford]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051217225742/http://www.riverthames.co.uk/boat/hire/1732.htm Magdalen Bridge Boathouse]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060319064223/http://www.oxfordstudent.com/tt2004wk1/
[[Category:Bridges in Oxford]]
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[[Category:Deck arch bridges]]
[[Category:Arch bridges in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed bridges in England]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Oxfordshire]]
[[Category:1790 establishments in England]]
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