Medal - Great Sunderland Bridge Lottery
1816 year| Pewter | 33.1 g | 44.7 mm |
| Location | United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| King | George III (1760-1820) |
| Type | Commemorative medals › Inauguration medals |
| Year | 1816 |
| Composition | Pewter |
| Weight | 33.1 g |
| Diameter | 44.7 mm |
| Thickness | 3 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-11-14 |
| Numista | N#117384 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
10-line inscription with date, legend surrounding.
Lettering:
TO COMMEMORATE
THE GRAND
SUNDERLAND BRIDGE
LOTTERY,
& THE VERY ADVANTAGEOUS
PRICES AT WHICH IS WAS
SOLD TO THE PUBLIC BY
I. SIVEWRIGHT,
CONTRACTOR,
1816
PRESENTED TO ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN THIS LOTTERY+
Engraver: Thomas Halliday
Edge
Plain
Comment
Withers: Silvewright was a Lottery Office Keeper in London.
The Sunderland bridge Lottery was to raise money for Roland Burdon, Sunderland's MP. He had been instrumental in funding and obtaining Acts of Parliament for the iron bridge across the Wear opened on 9 August 1796. The single arch bridge had been fabricated at Coalbrookdale. The total cost had been £34,000 of which Burdon subscribed £30,000. In spite of tolls he got into financial difficulties and the lottery was opened for his benefit in 1816 with a prize of £5000.
When his bank collapsed, leaving him with liabilities of ever £85,000, his shares were disposed of by lottery. The bridge was replaced in 1859 by the Wearmouth Bridge, the building of which was supervised by Robert Stephenson, at a cost of £40,000.
