 The major works executed by Harrison at the start and end of his career were bridges : Skerton Bridge in Lancaster and Grosvenor Bridge in Chester , both of which incorporated innovative features . In 1782 he won the first prize in a competition to design a bridge to cross the River Lune at Lancaster and to replace a medieval bridge . After some amendments to the design , the foundation stone was laid in June 1783 , and Skerton Bridge was completed in September 1787 , at a cost of £ 14 @,@ 000 ( equivalent to £ 1 @,@ 600 @,@ 000 in 2015 ) . The bridge was carried on five elliptical arches , and was the first in England to have a flat road surface . Harrison subsequently received further commissions for bridges , including St Mary 's Bridge in Derby ( 1788 – 93 ) , Harrington Bridge near Sawley , Derbyshire ( 1789 – 90 ) , and Stramongate Bridge in Kendal , Cumbria ( 1791 – 94 ) , followed by smaller bridges in Lancashire and Cheshire . He was appointed unofficially as the bridge master of Lancashire , and having carried out the duties of country surveyor for Cheshire since 1800 , was officially appointed to the post in 1815 . Harrison 's later bridges in Cheshire included the Mersey Bridge at Warrington ( 1812 – 17 ) , and Cranage Bridge near Holmes Chapel ( 1815 – 16 ) . These were the only bridges he designed to be built in timber rather than in stone , and both have been replaced . They were the first bridges of their type to be built in England , and were his only bridges to be regarded as " failures " . During his career , Harrison was consulted about the design of other bridges in the country . 
