Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Elevation: 38 ft
GPS: 37.5296, -77.4459
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 119,580 total · 592/month
Shared By: Orphaned User on Aug 11, 2007 · Updates
Admins: Shawn Heath, Aaron Parlier

Description Suggest change

From Rick Dejarnette's article for Riverside Outfitters:

"The Manchester Wall is the principal remain of the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad Bridge, which was chartered in 1836 and constructed of granite quarried from rock in and around Richmond. The bridge was intentionally burned down during the evacuation of Richmond in 1865. While rebuilt in 1866, it burned down again in 1882 after sparks from a passing locomotive ignited the supporting timbers, leaving only the granite abutment and pillars intact. This confirmed the foresight of a Richmond newspaper circulated between 1862-1865, which wrote, “The whole structure was designed with…a just regard to strength and durability. [The] piers of imperishable granite will remain as proud monuments.”

For over 100 years, the pillars and abutment stood as a quiet vestige to Richmond’s history, with regards to both wartime and industrial strategy, for no additional efforts were made to reconstruct the bridge after the second burning.

Then, something unlikely happened. In the 1980’s a small group of people categorically considered on the social fringe – rock climbers – realized a new vision for the wall, namely, to create a climbing haven within Richmond’s urban core. They cleaned the wall and pillars and carefully added hardware in increments up the wall to protect fellow climbers against ground falls."

Full Article

A standard rack is a set of 6-8 quickdraws, maybe 2 alpine draws, a set of smaller nuts, and a single rack of cams from BD .0-#1. There are maybe one or two routes where you can fit in a BD #2, but it's never critical. Manchester eats up finger size gear.

There is a free PDF guide that was published for this area by Michael Greeby available here.

Getting There Suggest change

From downtown Richmond, head across the Belvidere Bridge towards Southside. Take the first left at the end of the bridge (heading towards the Truist building) and either 1) hang a left immediately after passing the end of Truist, and park along Riverview Parkway, or 2) drive a little further down and park in the designated parking in a small lot (~15 spaces) at the intersection of Semmes Ave. and W 7th St. The parking along Riverview Parkway is much more reliable and cars get broken into there less often.

***THE PARKING UNDER THE BRIDGE IS NOW PERMANENTLY CLOSED***

Local Guide Services

Suggest change

Blue Ridge Mountain Guides

Blue Ridge Mountain Guides offers guided climbing and instruction in VA, WV, and NC from American Mountain Guide Association certified Instructors.

58 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Manchester Wall Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Manchester Wall

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 17
Potty Training
Trad
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 28
Gutter Ball
Trad, Sport
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 50
Bolts from Heaven
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 35
Voodoo Doll
Sport
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 38
Hooked on a Feeling
Sport, TR
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 21
Snakes Above
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 36
The Mortar the Merrier
Sport, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 29
Fun and Games
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 20
Bits and Pieces
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 30
McKenna
Trad, Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 11
Crown of Thorns
Trad
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 29
Take It for Granite
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 26
Root Canal
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R
 17
Tendinitis
Trad, Sport, TR
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 16
Nemesis
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Potty Training B) First Pillar
 17
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad
Gutter Ball A) Main Wall
 28
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad, Sport
Bolts from Heaven B) First Pillar
 50
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Sport
Voodoo Doll B) First Pillar
 35
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Hooked on a Feeling A) Main Wall
 38
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport, TR
Snakes Above B) First Pillar
 21
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
The Mortar the Merrier A) Main Wall
 36
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport, TR
Fun and Games A) Main Wall
 29
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Bits and Pieces A) Main Wall
 20
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
McKenna C) Second Pillar
 30
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, Sport
Crown of Thorns C) Second Pillar
 11
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Take It for Granite A) Main Wall
 29
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Sport
Root Canal A) Main Wall
 26
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Tendinitis A) Main Wall
 17
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R Trad, Sport, TR
Nemesis C) Second Pillar
 16
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
More Classic Climbs in Manchester Wall »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading