The fall of the Dee bridge in May 1847 was one of the first major railway disasters in Britain. It occurred just outside Chester with the loss of five lives. The line had only been opened six months before, and chief engineer Robert Stephenson was nationally slated (and virtually accuse of manslaughter) when his cast-iron bridge failed so catastrophically. Full of detailed technical insight and illustrated with a wealth of contemporary material, this informative book will be of great use for engineering students and historians and will also appeal to railway enthusiasts and interested locals. This is Dr Peter Lewis's second book for The History Press; his first, The Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay, was published in 2004.