River Crossing from Corbridge to Ovingham
View from the south bank
Corbridge
The first river crossing was built by the Romans half a mile upstream from the present bridge - remains of the abutments and piers can be seen when the river level is low.
After the Romans left the bridge fell into decay and a ford was used until 1235 when the Burgess of Corbridge built a new bridge.
By 1666 this also was in "ruin and decay" and the citizens of Newcastle complained it was damaging trade.
The present bridge was built in 1674 and so soundly was it constructed it has the distinction to be the only bridge along the whole length of the River Tyne to survive the Great Flood of 1771.
It was widened in 1881 and for a time in the 1970's an ugly "Bailey" girder bridge was erected alongside to cope with the A68(T) traffic - this was removed once the new bypass and Styford Bridge were built.
The bridge can be seen from Hadrian's Cycleway from Main Street.
Styford Bridge
A modern concrete bridge carrying the A68(T) road bypassing Riding Mill and Corbridge. In 1990 two RAF jets collided nearby and wreckage from one of the planes tore through the downstream parapet - fortunately no one was injured but not many bridges are closed due to falling aircraft !! Both aircrew survived.
Hadrian's Cycleway passes below the northern approach embankment.Bywell Bridge
Remains possible of Roman bridge piers can be seen just down stream from the present bridge - these were blown up in 1836 - killing one worker - prior to laying the foundations for the new bridge, which was opened in 1838 and has five stone arches. It was unusually in that it was free from any tolls.
Hadrian's Cycleway passes close to the north end of this bridge.Ovingham Pack Horse Bridge
During the 18th century, a pack-horse bridge was built across the Whittle Dean stream. It carried the main road from Newcastle to Carlisle. There was once a tollbooth somewhere in Ovingham, but its location is no longer known.
Hadrian's Cycleway passes alongside this bridge.
The Pack Horse Bridge at Ovingham
