A HISTORIC footbridge is preparing for its grand reopening for its 130th anniversary, after being saved from demolition and restored.

Coggeshall Parish Council is organising the grand reopening of Curd Hall Bridge, which spans the River Blackwater.

Known as Dick Nunn’s Footbridge, the structure was shut in September 2019.

Essex Highways wanted to remove the bridge after it was ruled unsafe by engineers.

However, it was saved and restored after a petition received hundreds of signatures from villagers.

The bridge dates back to 1892 and is set to celebrate its 130th anniversary this year.

It was built by former blacksmith Henry ‘Dick’ Nunn, who is a figurehead in the community’s history.

He was often involved in legal disputes and appeared in court regularly for defying authority and helping others.

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Dick was also a campaigner for public rights of way and in 1892 he decided it was time to replace a footbridge over the River Blackwater which had been removed 17 years earlier.

Coggeshall parish councillor June Alston said: “He was such a fighter for Coggeshall, he just did it for the village without the council or any support.

“That deserves to be recognised and remembered.”

Following the restoration, there will be a grand reopening for the public on May 22 at 11am at the football ground.

June added: “We have future plans to put a notice board and signs up and to have it added to tourist leaflets.

“There will also be posters put up, like the old posters that Dick Nunn originally used.

"The new information board at the bridge is the start of what myself, Trevor Disley and Dudley Maugham want to continue.

"All of this is so important, if we don’t keep things as they are, that history is gone forever, and there is so much hidden in this lovely old historic town."