Wanton bridge is the name tied to an old crossing on the Sakonnet River in Rhode Island. It blends the story of Wanton’s Ferry with the later Stone Bridge. Here you will find its history, location, and what still stands today.
What Is Wanton Bridge?
Wanton Bridge Meaning in Simple Words
Wanton Bridge is a name for a historic crossing between Portsmouth and Tiverton, Rhode Island. It began as a ferry landing and later held several bridges.
No single structure officially carried the name. Records use Wanton’s Ferry, Howland’s Ferry, and Stone Bridge instead.
The site sits on the Sakonnet River, a channel about 14 miles long. It runs from Mount Hope Bay to Rhode Island Sound.
Portsmouth lies on Aquidneck Island. Tiverton sits on the mainland shore. The old crossing carried Route 138 between them.
Wanton Bridge Coordinates and Nearby Landmarks
The old Stone Bridge site sits near 41.626° N, 71.217° W. Today’s Sakonnet River Bridge stands about 0.8 miles north.
Grinnell’s Beach marks the Tiverton landing. Teddy’s Beach sits on the Portsmouth side.
Wanton’s Ferry Before the Bridge
Wanton Bridge Ferry Origins
Ferry service began around 1640, though one local history points to the 1680s. Boats moved people, horses, wagons, and goods.
William Wanton received the ferry property in 1687. Daniel Howland of Tiverton bought it around 1703.
Other Names for Wanton’s Ferry
The same crossing also went by Howland’s Ferry, Pocasset Ferry, and Sanford’s Ferry. Local records add Anthony’s Ferry.
During the Battle of Rhode Island, American forces used the landing to reach the island. Many used it again to retreat.
Wanton Bridge History: The 1795 Toll Bridge
How the First Bridge Changed Travel
The Rhode Island Bridge Company gained the ferry rights in 1794. It opened a wooden toll bridge in 1795.
Designer Zenas Whiting built it about 900 feet long, using timber and stone. Travelers no longer waited for a boat.
Why the Early Bridge Failed
A high tide swept the span away within two years. The rebuilt bridge failed in 1798, and the crossing sat idle until 1808.
The ferry returned for roughly a decade.
Storm Damage at Wanton Bridge
Gales, Currents, and Ship Strikes
The narrow channel shortened the trip. It also brought treacherous currents.
The Great Gale of 1815 tore out a 200-foot section. A gale in the late 1860s breached the bridge and washed the draw section away.
A Crossing Hit at Least a Dozen Times
Storms and rammed ships damaged the crossing at least a dozen times. Each rebuild tried to be tougher.
Across the records, one pattern repeats: timber gave way to stone, and stone gave way to steel.
Stone Causeway and Draw Span
Why Stone Replaced Timber
Builders added a stone causeway with a wooden draw span in 1810. Stone held up against the river better than timber.
The name Stone Bridge took hold after the rebuild that followed the 1815 gale.
How the Draw Span Worked
A movable section opened the channel for boats. Wagons used the rest of the roadway.
Newspaper accounts from the 1840s name Gideon Manchester as the drawbridge tender. In 1871, Tiverton and Portsmouth bought the bridge and passed it to the state as a free crossing.
The 1907 Stone Bridge
A Steel Bridge for Streetcars
The Newport Street Railway opened in 1898. It linked Newport with Fall River, Massachusetts.
Heavy streetcars outgrew the wooden draw span.
The Rolling Lift Design
In 1907, a steel double-leaf rolling lift bridge opened. It is a type of bascule bridge.
Both leaves lifted to clear the channel. The bridge carried Route 138 and handled streetcar weight.
Hurricane Carol and Wanton Bridge
The 1954 Storm
Hurricane Carol severely damaged the Stone Bridge in 1954. The bridge closed to marine traffic afterward.
Closures and Reopening in 1955
Officials barred buses and trucks on January 13, 1955. All vehicles were barred on January 18, though walkers could still cross.
The bridge reopened on March 3, 1955. It served until the new bridge opened in 1956.
Wanton Family Connection
Who Was Wanton?
The Wantons were a prominent Tiverton and Newport family. Joseph Wanton moved to Tiverton in 1688 as a shipbuilder. His son Gideon was born there in 1693.
Four descendants of Edward Wanton served as colonial governors of Rhode Island between 1732 and 1775.
Why the Wanton Name Stuck
Published records do not explain how the name stayed with the crossing. The family’s local fame may be a reason, but no source confirms it.
The phrase blends two names. Wanton’s Ferry came first, and the Stone Bridge followed at the same site.
That is why one search can lead to several eras of the same route.
Wanton Bridge Novel by Rosalyn Alsobrook
Wanton Bridge is also a 1989 historical romance by Rosalyn Alsobrook. Kensington Publishing issued it as a mass market paperback, ISBN 9780821726501.
Some listings spell it Wanton Bride. Bookstores file it under fiction, so it is a separate search topic.
Wanton Bridge in South Carolina Law
South Carolina Code § 57-13-110 covers wanton or wilful injury to bridges. In law, wanton means reckless and careless of others’ rights.
Willfully or maliciously damaging a public road bridge is a misdemeanor. The fine runs from $50 to $500, or the sentence runs 30 to 90 days. The owner can still sue for damages.
This law has no tie to the Rhode Island crossing. Check official state sources for the latest text.
Wanton Bridge and Local Trade
Who Used the Crossing
Farmers, fishermen, merchants, and travelers all relied on it. Livestock, supplies, and passengers moved across each day.
Roads and Tolls Around the Crossing
East Main Road in Portsmouth was once called the Path to Howland’s Ferry. Tavern and inn keepers served travelers along the approaches.
The bridge charged tolls until 1871.
Wanton Bridge and Maritime Traffic
Keeping the River Open for Boats
Any span here had to leave room for vessels. The draw span did that from 1810 to 1907. The lift span did it until 1954.
Boat Traffic After 1954
The old bridge closed to marine traffic after Carol. The fixed bridge north of it offers about 100 feet of clearance.
Wanton Bridge and Regional Transportation
From Ferry to Modern Bridge
The route moved from ferry to toll bridge, then stone causeway, then steel bridge. Today it ends with the Sakonnet River Bridge.
Until the Mount Hope Bridge opened in 1929, the Stone Bridge was reportedly the island’s only bridge.
Numbers on Today’s Crossing
The 2012 rebuild of the Sakonnet River Bridge cost about $120 million. The four-lane span carries around 40,000 vehicles a day, with no toll.
What Happened to Wanton Bridge?
The Short Answer
Hurricane Carol crippled the Stone Bridge in 1954. The Sakonnet River Bridge replaced it in 1956, and the center span was later removed.
What Remains
Only the approaches remain. They now work as breakwaters and fishing piers.
Wanton Bridge Today
Tiverton Side
Tiverton bought its section in 2014. By 2019, it was a paved pier beside Grinnell’s Beach.
Anglers fish there for tautog, striped bass, and scup.
Portsmouth Side
Part of the Portsmouth abutment collapsed in 2019. The state spent $850,000 on a rock wall and closed the site to the public.
Restoration was still being sought as of early 2024. Check current access and seasonal beach rules before you visit.
Wanton Bridge Timeline
Key Dates in the Wanton Bridge Story
1640: Ferry service begins between Portsmouth and Tiverton.
1687: William Wanton receives the ferry property.
1795: The wooden toll bridge opens.
1810: The stone causeway with draw span opens.
1815: The Great Gale tears out a 200-foot section.
1871: The state takes over, and tolls end.
1898: The Newport Street Railway opens.
1907: The steel rolling lift bridge opens.
1954: Hurricane Carol severely damages the bridge.
1956: The Sakonnet River Bridge opens.
2012: The current Sakonnet River Bridge opens.
2014: Tiverton buys its section.
2019: The Tiverton pier is finished, and the Portsmouth abutment partly collapses.
Sources differ on the ferry start date, the year the first bridge fell, and whether the new bridge opened in 1956 or 1957.
FAQ’s
Where was Wanton Bridge located?
On the Sakonnet River between Portsmouth and Tiverton, Rhode Island.
Is Wanton Bridge the same as the Stone Bridge?
The name points to the same crossing, where Wanton’s Ferry ran first and the Stone Bridge came later.
Was Wanton Bridge a ferry?
No, but Wanton’s Ferry crossed at the same spot before any bridge existed.
What year did the first permanent bridge open?
A wooden toll bridge opened in 1795.
Why did Wanton Bridge have a draw span?
The movable section let boats pass while the roadway carried traffic.
Why did the bridge keep failing?
Currents, coastal storms, ship collisions, and heavier traffic wore down each version.
Who was Wanton in Wanton’s Ferry?
William Wanton received the ferry property in 1687, and it was sold to Daniel Howland around 1703.
What happened to the Stone Bridge?
Hurricane Carol severely damaged it in 1954, and the Sakonnet River Bridge replaced it in 1956.
What replaced Wanton Bridge?
The Sakonnet River Bridge, which was rebuilt in 2012.
Can you visit Wanton Bridge today?
Yes, on the Tiverton side, but the Portsmouth abutment is closed.
Final Thoughts
Wanton Bridge in One Line
Wanton Bridge is one crossing with many names: ferry, toll bridge, stone causeway, and steel Stone Bridge.
You can still visit the Tiverton pier and watch the same strong current that wrecked so many spans.
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