The stone in context

The above stone, which can be seen from the area in front of the Botanic Garden, must date from 1883, and commemorates both the rebuilding of Magdalen Bridge in 1773, and the widening of the bridge a hundred years later in 1882–3.

Full details about the forthcoming widening of the bridge from the engineer, W. H. White were published in Jackson's Oxford Journal on 7 January 1882. The new approach from the High Street would commence a few yards from Rose Lane and curve outwards until reaching the required width (which was twenty feet wider than before on the south-west side) at the commencement of the bridge. Dams would to be placed across each branch of the river in order to get in the foundations of the abutments and piers, and the tramway over the bridge would be moved.

Left: The nearby circular plaque commemorates the restoration of the balustrades of the bridge in 1989–1993.

The
balustrades of
Magdalen Bridge were
restored by the Oxford
Preservation Trust and
Oxfordshire County Council
with the support of the
Pilgrim & Rhodes Trusts
as well as many other
individuals and
organisations
1989–1993

Around the edge:

COUNTY ENGINEER D H HOOK
CONTRACTOR - C D L STONE RESTORATION - BRISTOL