Kingsferry and Sheppey Crossing: A Tale of Two Bridges

sheppey crossing and kingsferry bridge

There are two bridges built within close proximity that cross The Swale and link the Isle of Sheppey with mainland Kent. The Kingsferry bridge is the older of the two. It was built in the 1950’s and is a combined road and railway bridge with an interesting vertical-lift design for maritime traffic. This was superseded in 2006 by the Sheppey Crossing which is a has four lanes and reaches over 100+ feet in the air over the estuary.

This location has become a firm favourite of mine over the past few years. Access along either side of The Swale is good which enables lots of different views of both bridges plus the surrounding low lying marshes are prone to mist and fog which make the bold bridge structures more enigmatic.

Here a few of my efforts over the past few years:

Sheppey Crossing, Kent
Mirror-like reflections of Sheppey Crossing on The Swale
Kingsferry Bridge, Kent
Kingsferry Bridge isolated from the Sheppey Crossing in the thick fog
Kingsferry Bridge, Kent
Beneath the Sheppey crossing are some small ponds which I like to use to shoot either bridge. The reeds can make for ideal subjects to use in the foreground.
Sheppey Crossing and reeds. Kent
This is the same pond but shooting the Sheppey Crossing reflected in the water instead.
Isle of Sheppey, Kent
Frosty reeds acting as a counterweight to the bridge reflection
Early morning mist on The Swale.
These huge imposing structures are made to look more mysterious in the fog…
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