Five Arch Bridge

Painshill Park, Surrey

Valley Builders were engaged by the Trust to re-create this bridge in all its splendour. The bridge was designed in white reinforced concrete with a feature finish to imitate the original stone-like bridge. It was a requirement of the design that the final appearance would not show the ply finish associated with traditional reinforced concrete jobs. Great attention had to be paid to forming the traditional arch forms.

This was one of our most challenging jobs to date, one that could not be rushed. Operating from marine deposits and piled foundations, a flat scaffold deck was initially provided for access and then later used as the support for the arch form itself. The design had to take account and limit deflections in all components, the pour rate and sequence planned to minimise out of balance forces.

The arch form itself did not suit modern steel forms so was designed as a half cart-wheel simply supported from the piers either side.