據傳,唐代(dai)建(jian)浮(fu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)時,由于江流(liu)湍急,建(jian)筑(zhu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)基時發生困難。此(ci)時天降暴雨(yu),雨(yu)后天現(xian)彩(cai)虹。因而工匠在出現(xian)彩(cai)虹之(zhi)處(chu)打下橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)樁,將(jiang)(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)建(jian)起,因而時人(ren)認為(wei)靈(ling)現(xian),故橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)(ming)定為(wei)靈(ling)現(xian)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),又名(ming)(ming)靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。南宋(song)時,靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)改稱(cheng)東津浮(fu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),清代(dai)康熙年間(jian)浙(zhe)海關(guan)建(jian)立后,亦更(geng)名(ming)(ming)關(guan)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。1936年重建(jian)為(wei)永久橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)梁時,曾(ceng)有(you)民間(jian)團(tuan)體提(ti)議(yi)將(jiang)(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)(ming)更(geng)名(ming)(ming)為(wei)“中山(shan)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”,但寧波老江橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)籌備委員會以保護(hu)古跡為(wei)名(ming)(ming),將(jiang)(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)(ming)恢復為(wei)“靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”。文(wen)化大(da)革(ge)命(ming)期間(jian),靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)曾(ceng)被更(geng)名(ming)(ming)為(wei)“紅(hong)衛(wei)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”,1981年恢復靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)(ming)稱(cheng)。
民間曾稱靈橋(qiao)(qiao)為“江(jiang)(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)”,后由于(yu)清代同(tong)治(zhi)年間英國人在桃花渡建成新江(jiang)(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao),為表示區別(bie),靈橋(qiao)(qiao)的民間稱呼遂改為老(lao)江(jiang)(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao),這一(yi)俗稱一(yi)直沿用至(zhi)今
靈橋(qiao)始(shi)建(jian)于唐朝,原為木(mu)造浮橋(qiao)。1931年(nian),由旅滬甬商(shang)發(fa)起改建(jian),上海工部局英籍工程師(shi)(shi)詹姆森、新仁記營造廠工程師(shi)(shi)竺泉(quan)通(tong)勘查設計,德國(guo)西(xi)門子公司總(zong)承包,于1934年(nian)開工建(jian)設,1936年(nian)完(wan)工。靈橋(qiao)是(shi)中國(guo)第一(yi)座有(you)中國(guo)工程師(shi)(shi)參與設計的單孔鋼梁環形橋(qiao)。全長132米(mi),跨度97.5米(mi),是(shi)現(xian)存(cun)浙江省內(nei)較早的少數現(xian)代(dai)工程技術橋(qiao)梁,具有(you)劃時代(dai)的意義。
1931年8月,改建(jian)寧(ning)(ning)(ning)波老江橋(即靈(ling)現橋)籌備委(wei)員會在(zai)寧(ning)(ning)(ning)波、上(shang)(shang)海(hai)同(tong)時(shi)成立(li)。據(ju)說(shuo)建(jian)橋工(gong)(gong)作是(shi)(shi)在(zai)上(shang)(shang)海(hai)旅滬(hu)(hu)寧(ning)(ning)(ning)波同(tong)鄉會的主持下開展的,早期在(zai)滬(hu)(hu)上(shang)(shang)成功的寧(ning)(ning)(ning)波人(ren)士堅(jian)持要(yao)在(zai)家(jia)鄉造一座像(xiang)上(shang)(shang)海(hai)蘇州(zhou)河上(shang)(shang)外(wai)白(bai)渡橋那樣的堅(jian)固橋梁。最后,寧(ning)(ning)(ning)波靈(ling)橋由(you)上(shang)(shang)海(hai)工(gong)(gong)部(bu)局英籍工(gong)(gong)程師(shi)詹姆(mu)生和(he)新江記營造廠竺泉通(tong)設(she)計(ji)中標,德國西門子洋(yang)行中標工(gong)(gong)程承包。但據(ju)當時(shi)參(can)與建(jian)橋的老人(ren)施(shi)求藏(zang)回憶說(shuo):靈(ling)橋用(yong)外(wai)國材料、掛洋(yang)行牌子,但實際上(shang)(shang)設(she)計(ji)、施(shi)工(gong)(gong)都是(shi)(shi)滬(hu)(hu)甬(yong)兩地的寧(ning)(ning)(ning)波人(ren)。英國人(ren)詹姆(mu)生、師(shi)克和(he)許多(duo)外(wai)國人(ren)很少來寧(ning)(ning)(ning)波。于(yu)1936年建(jian)成通(tong)車(che)。
靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)建成后(hou)歷經滄桑(sang),在(zai)日(ri)寇侵略我國,寧波(bo)淪陷前遭受了日(ri)本侵略者(zhe)飛機的轟炸,被炸得千瘡(chuang)百孔,抗日(ri)勝利后(hou)曾作修繕,但在(zai)寧波(bo)解(jie)(jie)放(fang)后(hou),國民(min)黨(dang)轟炸機幾(ji)乎(hu)天天來轟炸,靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)上(shang)路面、鋼(gang)梁(liang)上(shang)彈孔累(lei)累(lei),但靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)仍然屹立在(zai)奉(feng)化江上(shang),是(shi)解(jie)(jie)放(fang)舟(zhou)山群島的鋼(gang)鐵運輸線。
這(zhe)座(zuo)橋(qiao)由德國西門(men)子公(gong)司設計,這(zhe)家(jia)公(gong)司經歷(li)二戰,竟仍然保存著靈橋(qiao)的檔(dang)案,前不久還寄(ji)來(lai)文(wen)件(jian)提醒業主及時維修。
寧波靈橋歷史可追溯到唐代(dai)。奉化江奔騰咆哮(xiao)把當(dang)(dang)時的明州撕成兩半,為解(jie)決舟渡難(nan)險,公元823年制16舟船,用蒙索連(lian)排(pai),上鋪寬6尺的木板,長55丈(zhang),據說通(tong)橋當(dang)(dang)時天空(kong)出現彩虹,即立橋名為“靈現橋”。
此后“靈(ling)現橋”在清(qing)末(mo)改建,但因缺錢而作罷(ba),1922年,一場秋風沖毀了屢修屢毀的(de)靈(ling)現浮橋。
1931年8月,改建(jian)(jian)寧(ning)波(bo)(bo)(bo)(bo)老江橋(即靈(ling)(ling)現橋)籌備委(wei)員會在寧(ning)波(bo)(bo)(bo)(bo)、上(shang)海同時成立。據(ju)說(shuo)建(jian)(jian)橋工作是(shi)在上(shang)海旅滬寧(ning)波(bo)(bo)(bo)(bo)同鄉會的(de)主持下開展(zhan)的(de),早期(qi)在滬上(shang)成功的(de)寧(ning)波(bo)(bo)(bo)(bo)人(ren)士堅持要(yao)在家(jia)鄉造(zao)(zao)一座像上(shang)海蘇(su)州(zhou)河上(shang)外(wai)白(bai)渡橋那樣的(de)堅固橋梁。最后,寧(ning)波(bo)(bo)(bo)(bo)靈(ling)(ling)橋由上(shang)海工部(bu)局英籍工程師詹姆(mu)生(sheng)和新(xin)江記營造(zao)(zao)廠(chang)竺(zhu)泉通(tong)設(she)計(ji)中標,德國西門子(zi)洋行中標工程承包(bao)。但據(ju)當(dang)時參(can)與建(jian)(jian)橋的(de)老人(ren)施(shi)求藏回憶說(shuo):靈(ling)(ling)橋用外(wai)國材(cai)料、掛(gua)洋行牌子(zi),但實(shi)際上(shang)設(she)計(ji)、施(shi)工都是(shi)滬甬兩地的(de)寧(ning)波(bo)(bo)(bo)(bo)人(ren)。英國人(ren)詹姆(mu)生(sheng)、師克和許多外(wai)國人(ren)很少來寧(ning)波(bo)(bo)(bo)(bo)。于(yu)1936年建(jian)(jian)成通(tong)車。
靈橋建(jian)成后(hou)歷(li)經滄桑,在日(ri)(ri)寇(kou)侵(qin)略我國,寧波淪陷前(qian)遭受了日(ri)(ri)本(ben)侵(qin)略者(zhe)飛機的轟炸(zha),被炸(zha)得千瘡(chuang)百孔(kong),抗日(ri)(ri)勝利后(hou)曾作(zuo)修(xiu)繕,但在寧波解放后(hou),國民黨轟炸(zha)機幾乎天天來(lai)轟炸(zha),靈橋上(shang)(shang)路(lu)面(mian)、鋼梁上(shang)(shang)彈孔(kong)累(lei)(lei)累(lei)(lei),但靈橋仍然屹立在奉(feng)化江上(shang)(shang),是解放舟山群(qun)島的鋼鐵運輸線。