A Grade II listed railway underbridge comprising one skew arch and three square-set arches, built c.1836-40 for the North Midland Railway to the designs of George and Robert Stephenson, with their Assistant Engineer Frederick Swanwick. The bridge was widened c.1875-6 for the Midland Railway by the addition of an iron girder deck on either side. Further refurbishment of the metal decking took place in 1933. This early 20th century metal decking is not of special interest. The Ripley Road Bridge is listed at Grade II because the masonry bridge survives within the widened structure, and is an example of the consistently high quality design and careful detailing of railway structures completed for the North Midland Railway between 1837 and 1840. The bridge is one of a series of railway structures built for the North Midland Railway between 1837 and 1840, designed by George and Robert Stephenson, two of the most important and influential engineers of the railway era, aided by Frederick Swanwick. The line is considered to be amongst the best- preserved examples of the pioneering phase of railway development in England. The bridge was designed with a combination of skew and in-line arches to span both the River Amber and the nearby turnpike road. The skew bridge arches on this section of the line are amongst the earliest to be built in the world. The subsequent widening demonstrates significant changes in bridge design applied to the same span requirements. The bridge forms part of a series of bridges constructed between Ambergate and Clay Cross, seven of which are listed, which share a common architectural language and which form part of a railway landscape of great interest. See list description for more details. (1)