This image shows View of Waterford. 'View of Waterford' by William Van der Hagen
© Waterford City Council

Archaeology & History:

From Timbertoes to Rice Bridge

Waterford did not have a bridge over the Suir until 1794. The river at Waterford is wide and deep and it was regarded as a huge job to build a bridge across it.

Before 1794 access to Waterford City from many areas was by ferry. William III had granted this ferry (and fifteen others) to James Roche and by 1786 ownership had passed to Cornelius Grogan.

The principle ferries, across the Suir were those at Waterford City, Passage East and Granagh. The ferries were of great antiquity and are mentioned in the Great Parchment Book of the Waterford Corporation.

In 1770 there had been a proposal by Thomas Covey for a stone bridge at the Graving Bank but this fell through. By 1786 a body of prominent civic office holders were nominated to open subscriptions to build a bridge. These subscribers were known as; 'The commissioners for building a bridge over the river Suir in Waterford'.

An Act of Parliament allowed Commissioners to obtain the ancient ferry rights on the river which cost £13,000 – a substantial sum based on a 20 year purchase of the average receipts over a 14 year period.

Subsequently Timbertoes, Waterford's first river crossing, was constructed. This bridge was suceeded in later years by Redmond Bridge which in turn was replaced by Rice Bridge.