Clumber Park footbridge finally repaired and reopened at Hardwick Ford

Clumber Park’s General Manager, Rob Holder said: “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 1800’s.

"With the improvements we have made, we hope that more visitors will be able to enjoy this scenic route around Clumber Park.

“To protect the bridge, and keep visitors safe, we ask that all cyclists and horse riders dismount on their approach to the bridge, using the mounting blocks which have been installed. Cyclists should walk their bike across the bridge, and riders should walk across the bridge while leading their horse through the water.”

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 Phil Gray from Cabin Hill Sawmill Ltd (Clumber Park), whose family supplied the wood used to make the previous bridge. Councillor Charles Adams from Bassetlaw District Council attended the event, alongside Clumber staff and Hardwick residents.

Visitors had not been able to use the bridge to cross the ford since August 2020 due to its state of repair and a diversion was put in place until the project was finished.