Slate Bridge
Swanzey, Cheshire County, New Hampshire
Last checked 2026-11-01 · Sources · More New Hampshire bridges
At a glance
- Status
- Listed in the state's covered bridge inventory[1]
- Year built
- 1862[1]
- Truss type
- Town lattice truss, single-span[1]
- Length
- 142'3" long[1]
- Vehicle access
- Not verified
- Parking
- Not verified
Directions go to the bridge's mapped point, not a confirmed parking area.
About this bridge
Slate Bridge is a covered bridge in Swanzey, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. It appears in the NH Division of Historical Resources covered bridge inventory. The state record gives its construction date as 1862. Its structure is recorded as town lattice truss, single-span. Wikidata records it as crossing Ashuelot River. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (reference 78000212).
Bridge details
- Town
- Swanzey[1]
- Location / road
- Westport Village Road near Westport Village over the Ashuelot River[1]
- Year built
- 1862[1]
- Truss type
- Town lattice truss, single-span[1]
- Length
- 142'3" long[1]
- Maintained by
- Town of Swanzey[1]
- Crosses
- Ashuelot River[2]
- National Register ref.
- 78000212[3]
- Load posting
- Posted for six tons (state inventory)[1]
- NH bridge number
- 4[1]
- World Guide number
- 29-03-06[1]
- Coordinates
- 42.84740, -72.34033[1]
History
The bridge name originates from the Slate family who lived on a farm along the river north of the bridge. It is the second bridge on this location, the first having been built around 1800. In 1842 William Wheelock was halfway across the earlier bridge with a span of four oxen when the bridge collapsed dropping both driver and animals into the river. Although no one was hurt, Wheelock engaged an attorney from Keene to seek damages from the town. A new covered bridge was built in 1862 by David Parsons and Elijah Hills for $1,850.64. That bridge was maintained by the Town of Swanzey until it was destroyed by arson on March 8, 1993. Through extensive fundraising efforts by the Slate Covered Bridge Committee, led by Francis Faulkner, Jr., the Slate Bridge was rebuilt in 2001. Designed by engineers Robert H. Durfee and Sean T. James from Hoyle Tanner, Inc., the bridge was constructed by Wright Construction Co. Inc. of Mount Holly, Vermont, and reopened on October 6, 2001. The Slate Bridge received several merit awards, including the 2002 National Timber Bridge Award, the 2003 National Council of Structural Engineers Associations Award, and the Plan New Hampshire Award in 2004.[1]
Text as published in the NH Division of Historical Resources covered bridge inventory, checked 2026-11-01.
Visiting
We have no official parking, accessibility or opening information for this bridge. Many covered bridges sit on working town roads. Park only where it is legal and safe, respect private property and posted signs, and check town or state notices for closures.
Not verified
We have not found an official source for: Vehicle access, Parking, Accessibility, Opening hours or seasonal closures. We leave these blank rather than guess. Never assume a road means you can drive, park or walk here.
Map
Red dot: this bridge. Green dots: nearest bridges in our list. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
Nearby bridges
- Coombs Bridge (Winchester): 1.2 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
- West Swanzey Bridge (Swanzey): 1.8 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
- Carlton Bridge (Swanzey): 3.4 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
- Sawyer's Crossing Bridge (Swanzey): 3.8 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
- Ashuelot Bridge (Winchester): 6.4 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
Sources
- NH Division of Historical Resources covered bridge inventory: checked 2026-11-01
- Wikidata: checked 2026-11-01
- National Register of Historic Places (NPS), via Wikidata reference number: checked 2026-11-01
- Wikipedia article (background reading; not used for facts on this page)
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