Sunday, June 22, 2008

A bygone bridge

A long-gone suspension (toll) bridge that crossed the South Tyne at Warden near Hexham. Built in 1825/26 at a cost of £50,000 (superintending engineer William Clegram) it had a 315ft span. Source: A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland, 2002. This photograph was taken in June 1900....and from what I can find out the bridge didn't survive a whole lot longer, the only date I can find so far for it's demolition/replacement is 1901. Looks like the toll booth survived though!

UPDATE....apparently it collapsed under the weight of a steam thresher in 1877 and was rebuilt, eventually being replaced in 1903. Source: Bridges on the Tyne (though they give the cost of building the original as £5,000 not £50,000) Amazing thing this internet, especially when you're avoiding a pile of dirty dishes!

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