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The bridge is listed Grade II* by Historic England for its special architectural or historic interest.<ref> [https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1100657 Victoria Bridge on the Historic England list]</ref>
The original [[The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership#Before construction: 1845-1858 | 1852 estimate]] for the construction of the Railway, which included £8,500 for "a girder bridge at Arley",<ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17612/17612-h/17612-h.htm Handbook to the Severn Valley Railway, by J. Randall 1863]</ref> also showed the station at Bridgnorth sited in the Low Town, east of the river. Although more convenient for the public, this would have required two further bridges, one south of the town near Quatford costing £8,000 and another north of the town near the present day golf course costing £9,000. A fourth bridge costing £10,000 was included near Shrewsbury in order to reach a junction with the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway. Cost saving measures adopted in the final railway plans resulted in the line remaining on the west bank and passing under High Town through [[Bridgnorth Tunnel]] instead, and joining the Shrewsbury & Hereford Railway, removing the need for these additional bridges.<ref Name = "Nabarro" />
For a more in depth description of the bridge, see [[Construction details of Victoria Bridge]].
During the Second World War the bridge formed part of Western Command Stop Line No 1, which followed the River Severn from Tewkesbury to Llandrinio, and was protected by infantry trenches and a movable steel and concrete railblock, <ref>[https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/dob/ai_full_r.cfm?refno=11063&CFID=036777f5-1e72-4b37-bd8c-19c140bb71fd&CFTOKEN=0 Council for British Archaeology web site]</ref>
→Construction and history: change order etc
==Construction and history==
[[File:Victoria Bridge Illustrated London News 1859.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Laying the foundation stone of Victoria Bridge, from the Illustrated London News, 17 December 1859]]
:''Main article: [[Construction details of Victoria Bridge]]''
The bridge was designed by the Severn Valley Railway's chief engineer, [[John Fowler]]. It is largely constructed from cast iron; manufacture of the ironwork was subcontracted to [[Coalbrookdale|the Coalbrookdale Company]].
In February 1860 Fowler reported that "''the foundations are well advanced and [[Coalbrookdale#The_Coalbrookdale_Company|the Coalbrookdale Company]] have been entrusted by Messrs. Brassey, Peto and Betts with the execution of the castings and wrought ironwork for the superstructure.''"<ref Name = Nabarro/> The bridge was completed in May 1861. It was reported at the time of construction that a defective rib casting was tested to destruction under a load of 430 tons.<ref name = "SVRNews58">SVR News 58, article by the consulting engineer to the 1979-80 refurbishment</ref>
The wording on each side of the bridge reads "[[Peto, Brassey and Betts | Messrs. Brassey & Co., Contractors.]]" "Victoria Bridge 1861 John <noglossary>Fowler</noglossary>, Engineer" "Cast and erected by the Coalbrookdale Company".
The deck of Victoria Bridge was originally built to [[double track]] width with overhanging walkways, similar to Albert Edward Bridge, the four arched ribs being at 4'11", 6' and 4'11" centres to place them almost directly under the rails. There is anecdotal evidence that at one time the single track was offset to one side, leaving the other side of the bridge clear for the possible laying of a second track, but was moved to its current central position in the 1950s. The overhanging walkways were removed, and the handrails moved inwards, at an unknown date.
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The original [[The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership#Before construction: 1845-1858 | 1852 estimate]] for the construction of the Railway, which included £8,500 for "a girder bridge at Arley",<ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17612/17612-h/17612-h.htm Handbook to the Severn Valley Railway, by J. Randall 1863]</ref> also showed the station at Bridgnorth sited in the Low Town, east of the river. Although more convenient for the public, this would have required two further bridges, one south of the town near Quatford costing £8,000 and another north of the town near the present day golf course costing £9,000. A fourth bridge costing £10,000 was included near Shrewsbury in order to reach a junction with the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway. Cost saving measures adopted in the final railway plans resulted in the line remaining on the west bank and passing under High Town through [[Bridgnorth Tunnel]] instead, and joining the Shrewsbury & Hereford Railway, removing the need for these additional bridges.<ref Name = "Nabarro" /> During the Second World War the bridge formed part of Western Command Stop Line No 1, which followed the River Severn from Tewkesbury to Llandrinio, and was protected by infantry trenches and a movable steel and concrete railblock, <ref>[https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/dob/ai_full_r.cfm?refno=11063&CFID=036777f5-1e72-4b37-bd8c-19c140bb71fd&CFTOKEN=0 Council for British Archaeology web site]</ref> The bridge is listed Grade II* by Historic England for its special architectural or historic interest.<ref> [https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1100657 Victoria Bridge on the Historic England list]</ref> There is a near-identical double track railway bridge spanning the river Severn upstream at [[Buildwas]]. This bridge, which was also designed by Sir John Fowler and opened in 1864, is known as [[Albert Edward Bridge]], named after the eldest son of Queen Victoria, who was later crowned as Edward VII.
==Operating restrictions==
