Pulteney Bridge
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What's on here
Why go
- The limestone southern front, with a temple-like central bay that clearly shows Robert Adam's hand.
- The design, which closely follows Andrea Palladio's rejected plan for the Rialto in Venice.
Don't miss
- Pulteney WeirLook for the weir beside the bridge. In the film version of Les Misérables, a death takes place at the weir.Beside the bridge, on the River Avon.1968–1972 On the map
- North-side shop extensionsLook for the projecting extensions built out from the rear of the shops.Rear of the shops on the north face. On the map
- The narrow street on the bridgeLook for the narrow street that runs between two rows of shops, above three equal arches.On the bridge deck. On the map
Know before you go
- Car traffic is barred from the bridge because of feared damage.
- Buses and taxis may still cross the bridge.
Tips for your visit
- A 2009 plan to close the bridge to motor traffic was dropped in 2011.
- The bridge stands inside a World Heritage Site known for its Georgian architecture.
Best time to visit
- Tourist boat trips leave from the weir during the summer months.
Interesting facts4
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Pulteney Bridge is named after Frances Pulteney, wife of Sir William Pulteney.
Pulteney Bridge - Wikipedia -
Sir John Soane's Museum in London holds original drawings by Robert Adam.
Pulteney Bridge - Wikipedia -
45 metres
The bridge is 45 metres long and 18 metres wide.
Pulteney Bridge - Wikipedia -
The bridge is the city's most fined bus lane, which brings the council a large income.
Pulteney Bridge - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
Before the bridge, the Bathwick estate could be reached only by ferry. Thomas Paty drew up the first plans, and Robert and James Adam then reworked them into a wider design. Robert Adam designed the bridge in a Palladian style. Baroness Frances Pulteney had first asked the Adam brothers to plan her town, but Robert Adam focused on the bridge instead. Avon floods then wrecked the north side, whose piers were not founded deeply enough. John Pinch senior rebuilt it in a simpler version of Adam's design. Thomas Telford also proposed replacing it with a single-span cast iron bridge.
- 1769Building begins, at a cost of £11,000.
- 1770Robert and James Adam adapt Thomas Paty's original design. The bridge is 15 metres wide, not the 9.1 metres Paty planned.
- 1773Robert Adam's bridge is completed.
- 1792The bridge is widened to 18 metres and its sixteen shops become six larger ones.
- 1799–1800Avon floods wreck the north side of the bridge.
Show all
- 1936The bridge is designated an ancient monument.
- 1951Its original façade is restored for the Festival of Britain.
- 1955It becomes a Grade I listed building.
Sources: Pulteney Bridge - Wikipedia · Bath - Wikivoyage (see) · Pulteney Bridge - Wikipedia · Pont Pulteney - Wikipedia · checked 20 Oct 2026
Questions and answers
Can you drive a car across Pulteney Bridge in Bath?
No. Car traffic is barred because of feared damage, while buses and taxis may still cross. A 2009 plan to close it to all motor traffic was abandoned in 2011.
Where is Pulteney Bridge, and how far is it from the Bath city centre?
It crosses the River Avon at the northeast entrance to Bath, England. The sights of the city centre lie about 300 to 800 metres away.
Who is Pulteney Bridge named after?
It is named after Frances Pulteney, wife of Sir William Pulteney. Robert Adam designed it in a Palladian style, and it was completed in 1773.
What can you see on Pulteney Bridge?
Shops and homes line both sides of its full span, which is 45 metres long and 18 metres wide. From the bridge you overlook Pulteney Weir.
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