Inheriting the British throne from his father in January 1936, Edward VIII was soon embroiled in scandal over his relationship with a married American woman, Wallis Simpson.
Later that year, Edward abdicated the British throne and his brother, King George VI was crowned.
Today, it can be difficult to track down traces of the uncrowned king’s short reign. No coins bearing Edward’s portrait were ever entered into circulation, and whilst there are a small number of post boxes and stamps still in existence, few towns have links to the abdicated monarch.
Before Edward ascended to the throne however, he did manage to visit a number of towns across Britain, and left his mark on some of those places, including in Grimsby.
The town’s iconic Corporation Road Bridge was opened in July 1928 by Edward, then the Prince of Wales, after its construction, completed in 1925 by Sir William Arrol & Co., Glasgow.
Photographs from the town’s archives, and submitted by local residents, depict the day that the royal visitor opened the bridge.
At the Western entrance to the bridge, an inscription on one of the plinths records its opening. Photos and footage from the time show crowds of people surrounding the bridge as His Majesty the Prince of Wales mounted ladders to inspect the control room.
The bridge cost £60,000 – more than £3m in today’s money. Today, it is the focus of a historic restoration, expected to breathe new life into the structure.
Councillor Stewart Swinburn, portfolio holder for environment and transport at North East Lincolnshire Council, said:
“In Grimsby we are very lucky to be custodians of such a wonderful piece of history, and that’s why we’re pressing ahead with its restoration.
“Restoring something that’s almost 100 years old, and has been battered by tides almost every day since it’s construction, is a huge job, and inevitably comes with challenges, but we have to remember that the bridge is a piece of history.
“This bridge was opened by a man who became King of Britain and an Empire before abdicating so he could marry the woman he loved, and that piece of history belongs to our town.
“We’re determined to save this piece of history for future generations to enjoy.”
Today, a commemorative plaque remains on one of the North-East plinths of the bridge to mark the occasion.
The following photos, except where stated otherwise, have been taken from North East Lincolnshire Council’s archives, and the Lincs Inspire local history archives.
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