Swing Bridge

HER Number:
1003

District:
Gateshead and Newcastle

Site Name:
Swing Bridge

Place:
Newcastle

Map Sheet:
NZ26SE

Class:
Transport

Site Type: Broad:
Bridge

Site Type: Specific:
Swing Bridge

General Period:
POST MEDIEVAL

Specific Period:
Victorian 1837 to 1901

Form of Evidence:
Structure

Description:
Nineteenth century hydraulic swing bridge. The main structure, complete with its hydraulic equipment, is by Sir W.G. Armstrong & Co. of Elswick. Opened for road traffic 15th June 1876 and for river traffic 17th July 1876, work having started in 1868. Although the pumps were electrified in 1959,the original hydraulic engines are in every day use moving the bridge. The length of the moving part is 281feet and weighs 1450 tons. It was erected by the Tyne Improvement Commissioners at a cost of £233,000. Thought to be the fourth bridge on the site. One of the few surviving nineteenth century hydraulic swing bridges in the country, also important for its connections with Armstrong and for its role in the development of industry in the upper parts of the Tyne. SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENT AND LISTED GRADE 2*

Easting:
425300

Northing:
563700

Grid Reference:
NZ425300563700

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 1003 >> Local Studies Tyne & Wear Industrial Monuments Trust, 1977, The Tyne Swing Bridge Tyne and Wear Industrial Monuments Trust, 1976, In Trust, Issue 2, June 1976 1976 Turning Point in History, The Guardian, Thursday April 10th 1976, p8; Paul Usherwood, Jeremy Beach and Catherine Morris, 2000, Public Sculpture of North East England, p 135; Grace McCombie, 2009, Newcastle and Gateshead, p 99