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The ha’penny bridge.Image by Ã…sa K from

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Ha’penny Bridge

Ha’penny Bridge is a pedestrian bridge built in May 1816 over the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland. The bridge was cast in Shropshire, England and was made of cast iron.

Ha’penny Bridge was originally known as the Wellington Bridge. However, the name of the Bridge changed to Liffey Bridge.

The Liffey Bridge remains the bridge’s official name to this day. However, it is most commonly referred to as the Ha’penny Bridge.

Over 300kg of padlocks were removed from the Ha’penny Bridge by the council. Citing a maintenance and damage risk.

The Ha’penny Bridge is a single elliptical iron arch rising over three metres above high water at its peak. The bridge is the most famous in Dublin and attracts hoards of visitors as well as locals.

Today an average of 30,000 people cross each day. The bridge was renovated due to an increase in pedestrians.

Let’s learn the top 10 fascinating facts about Ha’penny Bridge

1. Before the Bridge Seven Ferries were in Charge of Getting Dubliners to River Liffey

In the great span of history before the modern era of industrialisation. Humble ferries plied their trade upon this stretch of water.

 Seven Ferries used to get Dubliners from one side of the Liffey to another. The ferries were run by William Walsh.

2. Walsh was Informed t Build the Bridge under a Condition

Ha’penny Bridge.Image by Carina Chen from

The ferries were in bad condition for passengers. Thus, Walsh had to either fix them or build a bridge. Despite the £3,000 cost Walsh chose to construct a bridge.

Additionally, the Ha’penny bridge was to be built under a condition. if citizens of Dublin found the bridge and toll to be objectionable within its first year of operation. It was to be removed at no cost to the city. However, the bridge stayed.

3. The Bridge’s most Famous Moniker Comes from the Price of  Toll 

William Walsh was granted the right to extract a Ha’penny toll for 100 years. This was to anyone crossing it.

Initially, the toll charge was not based on the cost of Construction. It was to match the charges levied by the ferries it replaced.

The toll was increased for a time to a penny-ha’penny (1½ pence). However, it was eventually dropped in 1919. While the toll was in operation, there were turnstiles at either end of the bridge.

4. The Liffey Bridge Remains the Bridge’s Official Name

Ha’penny bridge’s official name is the Liffey Bridge since 1922. However, it was originally to be called the Wellington Bridge after the Dublin-born Duke of Wellington. In recognition of his defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo.

5. The Bridge was Constructed in Shropshire England

Ha ‘ Penny Bridge.Image by Joachim Druwe from

Despite being symbolic of Dublin city Ha’penny bridge was constructed in Shropshire England. The manufacture was commissioned by the then Lord Mayor of Dublin John Claudius Baresford with the Coalbrookdale Company of England.

  The bridge’s cast iron ribs were made in 18 sections and then shipped to Dublin. Ore originally mined in County Leitrim’s Sliabh and Larainn was used.

The design and erection were supervised by John Windsor. He was one of the company’s foremen and a pattern-maker.

6. The only Pedestrian Bridge over the River for 184 years

Ha’penny Bridge was the first pedestrian bridge to cross the Liffey. It retained its position as the only one to span the river until the opening of the Millenium Bridge in 1999.

7. An Estimated 30,000 Pedestrians Cross the Bridge Every Day

The bridge is the most famous in Dublin and attracts a large of visitors as well as locals. In a vastly expanded Dublin, today an average of 30,000 people cross each day.

8. Most of the Original Features were Retained during the Renovations

Due to the increase in the number of pedestrians using the bridge renovation was required. Ha’penny Bridge was closed for repair and renovation in 2001. It was reopened in December 2001 sporting its original white colour.

Ha’penny bridge was rebuilt to retain many of its old components although some features were removed. The repair work was carried out by Harland and Wolff.

The bridge has a 43-metre span, is 3 metres in width and rises an elegant 3 metres above the river. The superstructure is composed of three arch ribs, each formed in six segments.

9. Several Love Locks were Removed from the Ha’penny Bridge

Love Locks Padlocks. Image by Picography from

The scourge of metal love tokens which has plagued bridges from New York to Â鶹APP has never spared the ha’penny Bridge.

In 2012, Dublin City Council first began removing the metal padlocks placed on the bridge by lovers. Citing a maintenance and damage risk to the bridge.

However, the following year the council was forced to remove over 300kg of padlocks from the bridge. Signs were added requesting visitors and locals not to celebrate their romance by clamping padlocks to the ironworks.

10. The Bicentenary of the Bridge was Celebrated in 2016

The bridge officially turned 200 on May 19 2016. The milestone was celebrated with a symbolic procession across the bridge.

 It was led by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Críona Ní Dhálaigh and descendants of J.C. Beresford and John Windsor.

Although there are over 20 bridges crossing the River Liffey, none are as popular as the Ha’Penny Bridge. The Ha’Penny Bridge is a pedestrian-only bridge over the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland. It provides a great shortcut from the Temple Bar to the North Quays.

 Though the official name is the Liffey Bridge, it is commonly referred to as the Ha’Penny Bridge because anyone crossing was charged a toll of a half penny. The toll was dropped in 1919, and visitors are free to cross.