The Halfpenny Bridge in Dublin crosses the River Liffy and was at one time the only pedestrian bridge across the river. The new Millennium Bridge was opened in 2000 (obviously!) and is also for the feet as opposed to wheels. The Halfpenny Bridge was opened in 1816 and named the Wellington Bridge after the ‘Iron Duke’; however it soon acquired its other name because that was the price of the toll to cross over it, half a penny, half an old penny. ½d is equivalent to about 16p now. The bridge is iron and was opened cast at Coalbrookdale in Shropshire in England. The bridge has three lamps on it held up by curved ironwork.. The bridge was closed in 2001 because it was in desperate need of repair. When it was reopened, it had been repainted in the original paint. One change is at the ends there are areas which allow standing room for pedestrians before crossing over the road.
Widcombe footbridge in Bath, Somerset, is also known as the Ha’penny (Halfpenny) Bridge; it’s a single-span, wrought-iron bridge, built-in 1877 and originally a toll bridge.
Lois Elsden 