Ford bridge opens at Clumber Park

CLUMBER Park is delighted to announce the reopening of the footbridge at Hardwick village after it was significantly damaged back in August 2020. 

The new wider bridge provides greater access for mobility vehicles, wheelchairs, bikes and buggies. Clumber Park’s General Manager, Rob Holder commented: “We are so pleased to get the bridge back open to complete this historic walk around the estate. Hardwick is said to be longest ford in Nottinghamshire, and historic maps of the area show a crossing at this location since the late 1800s. With the improvements we have made, we hope that more visitors will be able to enjoy this scenic route around Clumber Park.” Constructed from oak, the bridge was crafted on the estate at Clumber Park by the National Trust In-house Specialist Crafts team. The ironwork was handmade by local Blacksmiths, Mather of Tibshelf, and York-based Pinnacle Conservation Ltd were the principal contractor. 

The Clumber Park team chose to build the new bridge outside of nature’s busy spring months, when birds are nesting in the reeds and young eels migrate upstream. Part of the ford also had to be dammed to direct water away whilst the work took place, making the low water levels of the summer the optimum time to manage the flow and reduce the risk of flooding. The bridge was officially opened by Rob Holder, with the help of Jean Mackman, Hardwick village’s longest standing resident, and Councillor Charles Adams who attended the event, alongside Clumber staff and Hardwick residents (pictured).

Photo credit: Johanna Mather