Old Darley Abbey Mills Bridge
The Darley Abbey Mills Bridge has been rebuilt several times. An original 18th-century masonry bridge was replaced in the mid-19th century by a structure supported on cast-iron columns. In the 1930s, this was replaced with a reinforced concrete bridge, which remained in place until 2026.
Although the bridge was formally owned by the Crown Estate, ownership passed to it by default and did not include responsibility for the bridge’s maintenance.
The bridge was closed in 2022 after inspections identified serious safety concerns. To maintain access across the River Derwent while a long-term solution was developed, Derby City Council installed Walter's Walkway as a temporary crossing.
In December 2025, Walter's Walkway was also closed due to riverbank erosion and stability concerns. The temporary crossing cannot be reinstated until the old bridge has been removed and the riverbanks stabilised.
The unsafe bridge was subsequently demolished in summer 2026 using the Council's emergency powers under Section 78 of the Building Act 1984, which allows local authorities to take urgent action where a structure presents an immediate danger to public safety.
Specialists in conservation and archaeology were appointed to provide a robust understanding of heritage and archaeological impacts and observed the removal of the bridge.
We are also progressing plans to take ownership of the bridge site, following consideration by Cabinet in April 2026. This will help in the development of the project to replace the bridge with a new, permanent solution.
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