River Tyne - Swing Bridge (1876)

Swing Bridge in closed position - open to road traffic

The construction of this bridge was motivated by the growth of W.G. Armstrong's Elswick works upstream.

The Georgian stone bridge prevented sizeable vessels from reaching the works,
so the Tyne Improvement Commission decided to replace it with a two-span swing bridge.
The Tyne Commission under the supervision of their engineers,
Messrs. Sir William George Armstrong & Co being the contractors constructed it.

The iron superstructure consisting of a double cantilevered swinging section 281 feet in
length and weighing 1200 tons, making the bridge the largest of its type in the world.

The span rotates about a central pivot supported by a ring of rollers similar to a
large gun turret which W.G. Armstrong's were well use to manufacturing.

The controls for the steam-powered swinging mechanism lay in a cupola,
enabling the bridge to be turned through 180 degrees in just 3 minutes.

Electric pumps replaced the steam pumping mechanism in 1959 but the
original hydraulic motors remain in use. With the decline in marine traffic, the
bridge only occasionally needs to be turned usually for river sightseeing craft.

The bridge which is a Listed Structure,
has recently been given an overhaul and repainted in its original colours.

Swing Bridge - Full Open to river traffic.

This bridge was completed and opened for road traffic without any ceremony on the 15th June 1876
and was first used on the 17th July 1876 when the "Europa" of the Italian Navy, passed up to the
Elswick Ordnance Works to take on board a gun weighing 100 tons for the Italian Government.

The cost of the bridge was £240,432 1s 7d.

© Doug-on-the-Tyne - 2004