Foss Island Cable Bridge: How historic York bridge that has been locked since the 1980s could open again

It dates back to 1931, when construction firm Monk Bridge built it to connect the York Corporation electricity plant with the cooling tower that had been sited on the other side of the River Foss. Many people walking across it would have been unaware of the cables it carried.

The power station closed in 1976, the cooling tower was demolished and the site restored as a wildlife reserve, and the Blue Bridge fell out of use. There has been no pedestrian access since the 1980s.

"We think of York’s heritage as being the Minster and the Georgian buildings, but there was also lots of industry and the Foss was the ‘working’ river. The Corporation power plant opened in 1900 and was cutting edge at the time, and there were rail yards and an incinerator, which still exists, nearby. There was even a ‘mini Chernobyl’ in 1949, when the roof of the incinerator blew off in an explosion,” said the Trust’s Dr Duncan Marks.

Interest in the bridge was reignited in lockdown, when the Trust filmed a presentation near the structure, which has been locked for 40 years, and gave a talk to members who soon raised £500 towards a feasibility study on the prospect of it re-opening.

"Hungate has been redeveloped now, after the terraces were cleared in the 1930s, and the bridge is a real connection route. There is an opportunity to give it a purpose again for the residents and students now in the area.”

Re-opening the bridge as a pedestrian link – the steps make it unsuitable for cyclists – also aligns with the Trust’s City Enhancement Fund, which invests in the repair of more everyday aspects of the city’s heritage.

The structure is still owned by City of York Council, and Northern Powergrid still use it. The project would first focus on repainting and restoring corrosion to the iron.

"The lead paint is now considered a health hazard, so it’s complicated job as we can’t just let it fall into the river! We are looking to use our own funds with involvement from partners.

"Even to get partial access again for Heritage Open Days would be fantastic. It offers a completely different view of the river and would give the area a real uplift.”

As part of the City Enhancement Fund, traditional signwriters are being commissioned to rejuvenate a number of hand-painted street signs still found across York. Most date from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. The Trust will fund an apprenticeship for a signwriter to focus on their repair, and is offering groups of neighbours the opportunity to pay £200 to sponsor the restoration of their street’s plaque.