據傳,唐代(dai)建(jian)浮(fu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)時(shi)(shi),由(you)于江流湍急,建(jian)筑橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)基時(shi)(shi)發(fa)生困難。此(ci)時(shi)(shi)天(tian)降暴雨,雨后天(tian)現彩虹。因而(er)工匠在(zai)出現彩虹之處(chu)打(da)下橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)樁,將橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)建(jian)起,因而(er)時(shi)(shi)人認為(wei)靈(ling)(ling)現,故橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)(ming)定為(wei)靈(ling)(ling)現橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),又名(ming)(ming)靈(ling)(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。南宋時(shi)(shi),靈(ling)(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)改稱東(dong)津浮(fu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),清代(dai)康熙年間浙海關建(jian)立后,亦更名(ming)(ming)關橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。1936年重建(jian)為(wei)永(yong)久(jiu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)梁時(shi)(shi),曾有民間團(tuan)體提(ti)議將橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)(ming)更名(ming)(ming)為(wei)“中山橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”,但(dan)寧波老江橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)籌備委員會以(yi)保護(hu)古跡為(wei)名(ming)(ming),將橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)(ming)恢復為(wei)“靈(ling)(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”。文化大革命(ming)期間,靈(ling)(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)曾被(bei)更名(ming)(ming)為(wei)“紅衛橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”,1981年恢復靈(ling)(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)(ming)稱。
民間(jian)曾稱靈橋為“江(jiang)橋”,后(hou)由于清代同(tong)治年間(jian)英(ying)國人在桃花渡建成新江(jiang)橋,為表示區(qu)別,靈橋的(de)民間(jian)稱呼遂改為老江(jiang)橋,這一(yi)俗稱一(yi)直沿用至今
靈橋(qiao)(qiao)始建于(yu)唐朝(chao),原為木造浮橋(qiao)(qiao)。1931年,由旅滬甬商發起改建,上海工(gong)(gong)(gong)部局英籍工(gong)(gong)(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)師詹(zhan)姆森、新仁記營造廠工(gong)(gong)(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)師竺泉通勘查設(she)計,德(de)國(guo)西門子公司總(zong)承包,于(yu)1934年開工(gong)(gong)(gong)建設(she),1936年完工(gong)(gong)(gong)。靈橋(qiao)(qiao)是中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)第(di)一座有(you)(you)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)工(gong)(gong)(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)師參與設(she)計的(de)單孔鋼梁環形橋(qiao)(qiao)。全長132米,跨(kua)度97.5米,是現存浙江省內較早的(de)少數現代工(gong)(gong)(gong)程(cheng)(cheng)技術(shu)橋(qiao)(qiao)梁,具(ju)有(you)(you)劃時(shi)代的(de)意(yi)義。
1931年8月,改建寧(ning)(ning)波(bo)老(lao)江(jiang)橋(qiao)(即靈現橋(qiao))籌備委員會(hui)在(zai)寧(ning)(ning)波(bo)、上(shang)海(hai)(hai)(hai)同時成立。據說建橋(qiao)工作是在(zai)上(shang)海(hai)(hai)(hai)旅滬寧(ning)(ning)波(bo)同鄉(xiang)會(hui)的(de)主持下開展的(de),早期在(zai)滬上(shang)成功的(de)寧(ning)(ning)波(bo)人士堅(jian)持要在(zai)家鄉(xiang)造一座像(xiang)上(shang)海(hai)(hai)(hai)蘇(su)州河上(shang)外白渡橋(qiao)那樣的(de)堅(jian)固橋(qiao)梁。最后,寧(ning)(ning)波(bo)靈橋(qiao)由上(shang)海(hai)(hai)(hai)工部局英籍工程(cheng)(cheng)師詹姆(mu)生和(he)新江(jiang)記營造廠竺泉通設計(ji)中標(biao),德國西門(men)子洋行中標(biao)工程(cheng)(cheng)承包。但(dan)據當時參與建橋(qiao)的(de)老(lao)人施(shi)求藏回憶(yi)說:靈橋(qiao)用(yong)外國材料、掛(gua)洋行牌(pai)子,但(dan)實際上(shang)設計(ji)、施(shi)工都是滬甬(yong)兩地的(de)寧(ning)(ning)波(bo)人。英國人詹姆(mu)生、師克和(he)許多外國人很少來(lai)寧(ning)(ning)波(bo)。于1936年建成通車。
靈(ling)(ling)橋建成后歷(li)經滄(cang)桑,在(zai)日(ri)寇(kou)侵略我(wo)國(guo)(guo),寧(ning)波淪陷前遭受了日(ri)本侵略者飛(fei)機的轟炸,被炸得千瘡百(bai)孔,抗日(ri)勝利后曾作修繕,但(dan)在(zai)寧(ning)波解(jie)(jie)放后,國(guo)(guo)民黨轟炸機幾乎天(tian)天(tian)來(lai)轟炸,靈(ling)(ling)橋上(shang)路面、鋼(gang)梁上(shang)彈孔累累,但(dan)靈(ling)(ling)橋仍然(ran)屹立在(zai)奉化江上(shang),是解(jie)(jie)放舟(zhou)山群島的鋼(gang)鐵運輸線(xian)。
這(zhe)座橋由德國西門(men)子公司(si)設計,這(zhe)家公司(si)經歷二(er)戰(zhan),竟仍然保存著靈橋的檔(dang)案,前(qian)不久(jiu)還寄來文件提醒業主及時維修(xiu)。
寧波靈(ling)(ling)橋(qiao)歷(li)史可(ke)追溯到唐(tang)代。奉化江奔騰咆(pao)哮把(ba)當時(shi)的(de)明州撕成兩半(ban),為解決舟渡難險(xian),公元(yuan)823年制16舟船,用蒙索連(lian)排,上鋪寬6尺的(de)木板,長55丈,據說(shuo)通橋(qiao)當時(shi)天空出現(xian)彩虹(hong),即立橋(qiao)名為“靈(ling)(ling)現(xian)橋(qiao)”。
此后“靈現橋(qiao)”在清末(mo)改建,但因缺錢而作罷,1922年,一場秋風沖毀(hui)了屢(lv)修(xiu)屢(lv)毀(hui)的靈現浮橋(qiao)。
1931年(nian)8月,改建(jian)(jian)寧波(bo)老江橋(qiao)(qiao)(即靈(ling)現橋(qiao)(qiao))籌備委(wei)員會(hui)在寧波(bo)、上海同(tong)時(shi)成立。據說建(jian)(jian)橋(qiao)(qiao)工(gong)作是在上海旅滬(hu)寧波(bo)同(tong)鄉會(hui)的(de)主(zhu)持下(xia)開(kai)展(zhan)的(de),早期在滬(hu)上成功的(de)寧波(bo)人(ren)(ren)士堅持要(yao)在家鄉造一(yi)座(zuo)像上海蘇州河上外(wai)白渡橋(qiao)(qiao)那樣的(de)堅固橋(qiao)(qiao)梁。最后,寧波(bo)靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)由上海工(gong)部局英籍工(gong)程師詹姆(mu)生(sheng)和新(xin)江記(ji)營造廠竺泉通設計(ji)中標,德國(guo)西門子(zi)洋行中標工(gong)程承包。但據當(dang)時(shi)參與(yu)建(jian)(jian)橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)老人(ren)(ren)施(shi)求藏回憶說:靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)用(yong)外(wai)國(guo)材料、掛洋行牌(pai)子(zi),但實際上設計(ji)、施(shi)工(gong)都是滬(hu)甬兩(liang)地(di)的(de)寧波(bo)人(ren)(ren)。英國(guo)人(ren)(ren)詹姆(mu)生(sheng)、師克和許多外(wai)國(guo)人(ren)(ren)很少來寧波(bo)。于1936年(nian)建(jian)(jian)成通車。
靈橋建成后(hou)歷經滄桑,在日(ri)寇侵(qin)略我國,寧波(bo)淪陷(xian)前遭受了日(ri)本(ben)侵(qin)略者飛(fei)機的(de)(de)轟炸,被(bei)炸得千(qian)瘡百孔,抗日(ri)勝(sheng)利后(hou)曾作修(xiu)繕,但在寧波(bo)解放(fang)后(hou),國民黨轟炸機幾乎(hu)天天來轟炸,靈橋上(shang)路面、鋼梁上(shang)彈孔累累,但靈橋仍然屹立在奉化江上(shang),是解放(fang)舟(zhou)山群島的(de)(de)鋼鐵運(yun)輸線。