HUNDREDS of people from both sides of the border gathered in Chepstow to mark the 200th anniversary of the old Wye Bridge.

Exactly 200 years to the minute after a procession made its way through the town to celebrate the opening of what was then a state-of-the-art bridge, it was recreated with a parade.

Engineers, magistrates, singers, farmers, tradesmen, schoolchildren and the clergy were all represented in the original celebration and their modern counterparts were there too.

In 1816 the bridge’s designer, John Urpeth Rastrick was at the head of the parade and his place was taken by Sir John Armitt, the president of the Institution of Civil Engineers with flags carried by residents of Bridge Street.

Among the guests were the chairmen of Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire county councils, Cllr Colin Hay and Cllr Jim Higginson, the Mayor of Chepstow, Cllr Paul Pavia, and the Mayor of Bridgnorth in Shropshire where the iron for the bridge was made.

Sir John said: “What a pleasure it is to be here with you today, celebrating at the very moment, at the very spot where this bridge was opened and handed over by John Rastrick to the people of Chepstow.

“We all feel very grateful to John Urpeth Rastrick for his work and what he passed down for future generations: a great example of engineering.”

Cllr Hay said: “It’s a testament to their foresight and boldness of the community at the time in thinking ahead and improving the infrastructure for the long-term future.

“We are the beneficiaries of that foresight and we need to do the same for generations to come.

“This was a stunning achievement and it still is. There is another bridge which carries more traffic but this really is a symbol of the links between the two counties.”

Cllr Higginson said the bridge was a credit to the engineering profession which “combines strength, style and integrity.”

Cllr Pavia said he was delighted to see so many people turn out to celebrate the anniversary.

A plaque to mark the occasion was unveiled on the Welsh bank of the Wye and the celebration finished with a cavalcade of vintage vehicles.

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