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This cast iron lattice footbridge at St Mary's Halt was opened to the public in September 1892. It was built to stop the trespassers who were crossing the line in between the wagons loaded with forest coal waiting in the sidings blocking the footpath that runs through the Church Yard to St Mary's Church.
The bridge was manufactured by Messrs. G. Smith & Co of Glasgow at the cost of £247 delivered and erected – but it cost £20 more when they found when they had to increase the span and lengthen the stairs. The bridge is an intrinsic part of a newly designated Lydney Conservation Area (as defined by the Forest of Dean County Council).
Local children enjoyed the attraction of the free slide down the banisters until it became apparent to the local council that a child could fall off and land on the spiked railings that are still in place. At the cost of 30 shillings (£1.20), iron bolts were fixed to the handrails to discourage the practice. 
A fundraising event was held by DFR back in 2002 whereby an in excess of £2,000 was raised by its members towards the approx +£70,000 costs in the required restoration work. Further match-funding is currently being sourced along with local interested parties who would see the closure of this bridge as an 'historic loss' to Lydney, along with DFR and the Forest of Dean County Council.
DFR members have undertaken ‘strategic repairs' in the past but the engineer's report has revealed weaknesses and an increasing danger of tripping and slip hazards.
A personal account and history by one of these member's will be available shortly.
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