by Blitzkid » Mon Apr 04, 2022 1:30 pm
Blitz-kid,
The arches you see in the above picture were not the original,, The Coventry and Nuneaton railway was constructed in 1848-9 the bridges of Spon-end fell down in Jan 1857 causing considerable sensation in the city. The bridges were said to be unsafe for some time before the accident. They were of red-sandstone and not sogreat a span as those re-erected and there were more Arches. the new arches built of blue brick. The arches and abutments of old just prior to there fall the in- security the builder said they would last as long as he would lived, that he died a day before the accident happened.
Near the Bridges was the pub THE PUNCH BOWL, several people planned to commit a robbery, they were detected in the act and a murder was commited, a youth Bradshaw called 'Duckfat' was in the house at the time, he was eating a meal, with knife in his hand a neighbour. When before the judge at the assizes he was thought to have something to do with it, being a simple fellow he defended himself, he was condemmed to be hung. The jailers believing he was innocent, sent him on errands hoping he might run-away, but he would not take the bait, and was hung on Whitley common, before 10,000 people.