Pero's Bridge
Bridge in Bristol, England From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pero's Bridge (grid reference ST585726) is a pedestrian bascule bridge that spans St Augustine's Reach in Bristol Harbour, Bristol, England. It links Queen Square and Millennium Square.
Pero's Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 51.4501°N 2.5979°W |
| Carries | Pedestrian |
| Crosses | St Augustine's Reach in Bristol Harbour |
| Locale | Bristol, England |
| Maintained by | Bristol City Council |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | bascule bridge |
| Longest span | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Clearance below | 3.3 m (11 ft) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1999 |
| Location | |
 | |
The bridge is composed of three spans; the two outer ones are fixed and the central section can be raised to provide a navigation channel in the harbour. The most distinctive features of the bridge are the pair of horn-shaped sculptures which act as counterweights for the lifting section, leading it to be commonly known as the Horned Bridge or Shrek's Bridge as the counterweights resemble the ears of the animated star of the eponymous film.
The bridge is named after Pero Jones who lived from around 1753 to 1798, arriving in Bristol from the Caribbean Island of Nevis in 1783. He was enslaved by merchant John Pinney (1740–1818) who lived at 7 Great George Street.[1][2] Pinney also brought his wife's maid with him, Frances Coker, who had also been born a slave, but Pinney had freed her in 1778.[3]
The bridge was designed by the Irish artist Eilis O'Connell, in conjunction with Ove Arup & Partners engineers.[4] It was formally opened in 1999 by Paul Boateng MP, then a Home Office minister.[5] The name of the bridge was attacked by then Liberal Democrat councillor Stephen Williams. He condemned the decision as "gesture politics", instead wanting a statue or permanent memorial to remember Bristol's role in the slave trade.[6] Eilis O'Connell commented "The council can call it what they want, but Pero's Bridge sounds a bit political."[7] Hundreds of people now attach padlocks to the bridge as a sign of affection to each other.
For four days in June 2020, the Statue of Edward Colston, a Bristolian slave trader, lay at the bottom of the harbour directly south of the bridge after being toppled from its plinth by protestors during the George Floyd protests. It was then retrieved by the council and put in storage. It now resides as a permanent feature in Bristol's M-Shed museum shown now lying instead of standing, with all original protest graffiti maintained.[8]
The length of the lifting span is 11 metres (36 ft) and a 9-metre (30 ft) navigation channel is provided.[9]
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