List of crossings of the River Tees
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Nature%27s_World_-_Model_of_the_River_Tees_%283359725523%29.jpg/330px-Nature%27s_World_-_Model_of_the_River_Tees_%283359725523%29.jpg)
The River Tees forms the traditional border between Yorkshire and County Durham, passes through the Teesside Urban area built-up area, and has many crossings. The natural low-lying landscape of the surrounding landscape together with the development of shipping on the water way has led a number of unusual bridges being built.[1]
History of crossings
[edit]An early crossing of the Tees was made by the Romans, with the construction of a bridge at Piercebridge, along with a corresponding fortress.[2] The bridge was built on the route of Dere Street, and as a result it likely saw a great deal of military traffic going between the fortress at York and the northern frontier.[3] It was first built in wood around 90 AD, before being rebuilt in stone, possibly when the first bridge washed away. The use of the bridge may of continued into the sub-Roman period.[2]
Crossings of the Tees continued to be important in the journey from north to south, and vice versa, along the east coast, during the medieval period.[4] During the 13th century it was described as "the major obstacle to speedy travel out of the diocese of Durham southwards", with the contemporary fords, bridges and ferries proving particularly inconvenient in the winter period.[5] This included the Great North Road, for which the Croft Bridge was built in the 13th or 14th centuries. Yarm Bridge was built around 1400, by bishop Skirlaw.[4]
In 1771 a major flood on the Tees, along with others in the North-East, caused major damage to the river's bridges, completely destroying some. The Wynch Bridge, Supposedly the oldest suspension bridge in Europe, dating from 1741, was lifted from its moorings. The bridge in Gilmonby was recorded as being destroyed after having only been fully operational for 3 years. On the other hand, The medieval Yarm Bridge was not affected by the flood, despite every other building in the town being damaged.[6]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/S%26DR_Tees_Suspension_Bridge%2C_1830.jpg/220px-S%26DR_Tees_Suspension_Bridge%2C_1830.jpg)
With the industrialisation of the area through the 19th century, many new bridges where needed closer to the ports mouth.[5] When the Stockton and Darlington railway, first opened in 1825, it was realised that the staiths at Stockton where two small to export the desired amount of coal. The decision was made to start exporting closer to the rivers mouth on the other bank, at Port Darlington (later Middlesbrough). This required the building of the first suspension railway bridge.[a] This moved the commercial centre of gravity of Teesside further down stream, where many future bridges would be built.[7]
By the end of that century there were 21 principal firms on and adjacent to the Tees in the Stockton and Thornaby area, with 36 firms in the Middlesbrough area. This led to the development of two of the most famous bridges on the river, The Transporter Bridge, in 1911, and the Newport Bridge, in 1934, both trying to balance the needs of travellers across the river with shipping up and down it.[5]
List
[edit]The following is a list of crossings of the River Tees, heading downstream, from source to its mouth in the North Sea. This includes road, rail, pipe and foot/cycle bridges and fords.[8][9]
Source to Barnard Castle
[edit]Crossing | Photo | Opened | Notes | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|
Moor House Bridge | ![]() | 54°41′57″N 2°22′23″W / 54.69917°N 2.37306°W | ||
Birkdale footbridge | ![]() | 1966 | Just downstream from Cow Green reservoir.[10] | 54°39′13″N 2°17′23″W / 54.65361°N 2.28972°W |
Cronkley Bridge | ![]() | Private road bridge | 54°39′33″N 2°12′55″W / 54.65917°N 2.21528°W | |
Holwick Head Bridge | ![]() | 1998 | The first bridge built here was in 1844, by the Duke of Cleveland.[11] | 54°38′59″N 2°10′25″W / 54.64972°N 2.17361°W |
Wynch Bridge | ![]() | 1830[12] | The original suspension bridge built on this spot was finished in 1741, was the first of its kind in Britain. That bridge was washed away in the Great Flood of 1771, with 2 more bridges being subsequently built there.[13] | 54°38′46″N 2°9′2″W / 54.64611°N 2.15056°W[H 1] |
Scoberry Bridge | ![]() | 1971 | A bridge on this site was originally built in 1881, by public subscription. That bridge was damaged by flooding in 1942 and closed. Eventually rebuilt in 1971. There has been some controversy over who is responsible for upkeep.[14][15] | 54°38′28″N 2°8′26″W / 54.64111°N 2.14056°W |
Middleton Bridge | ![]() | 1853 | Replacing an earlier bridge, of 1811, which had collapsed before its completion. Consisting of one wide segmental arch, this bridge was under construction as early as 1810, using funds raised by public subscription.[16][17] It now carries the B6277 road. | 54°37′21″N 2°5′3″W / 54.62250°N 2.08417°W[H 2][H 3] |
Beckstones Wath Footbridge | ![]() | 2002[18] | Also known as the Millennium Bridge, built in response to campaign from residents in Eggleston and Mickleton, began in the 1980s.[19] The opening ceremony was attended by Lord Barnard and Earl of Strathmore.[18] | 54°36′47″N 2°2′16″W / 54.61306°N 2.03778°W |
Eggleston Bridge | ![]() | 1450s | While incorporating parts of the original 15th century bridge, the structure as it now stands mostly dates to the 17th century.[20] Carries the B6281 road. | 54°36′15″N 2°0′24″W / 54.60417°N 2.00667°W[H 4] |
Cotherstone Bridge | ![]() | 1932 | This bridge is close to the point where the Balder meets the tees. A bridge on this site was destroyed in an 1881 flood.[21][22] | 54°34′38″N 1°58′51″W / 54.57722°N 1.98083°W |
Barnard Castle to Piercebridge
[edit]Crossing | Photo | Opened | Notes | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|
Deepdale Aqueduct | ![]() | 1893 | Also known as the "Silver Bridge" locally. A Victorian aqueduct, built for Stockton and Middlesbrough Waterboard by Head Wrightson, with a footpath on top.[23][24][25] It was designed by the engineer, James Mansergh.[26] | 54°32′45″N 1°55′50″W / 54.54583°N 1.93056°W[H 5][H 6] |
Barnard Castle Bridge | ![]() | 1569 | Replacing a much older bridge of an unknown age, the gothic bridge, is also known as "County Bridge". Like many bridges on the Tees it was severely damaged by the 1771 flood, and was rebuilt.[27][28][29] It now carries the A67 road. | 54°32′34″N 1°55′38″W / 54.54278°N 1.92722°W[H 7][H 8][H 9] |
Thorngate Footbridge | ![]() | 1882 | Built to give access to the mills for textile workers. It was the second bridge on the site replacing a bridge that had been completed in the early 1870s. The first bridge, which was apparently cheaply built, collapsed in a storm in 1881, killing 2 onlookers. A second bridge was completed in 1882, but opened without ceremony.[30][31] | 54°32′21″N 1°55′33″W / 54.53917°N 1.92583°W[H 10] |
Abbey Bridge | ![]() | 1773[32] | Built for John Sawrey Morritt as one single span. There are two emplacements at the south end of the bridge which are the sites of former toll houses, which were built with battlements and ornamental arrow loops. These buildings where demolished in the second half of the 20th century.[26][32] | 54°31′47″N 1°53′57″W / 54.52972°N 1.89917°W[H 11] |
Whorlton Bridge | ![]() | July 1831[33] | The bridge had been started at this location before October 1829, but a flood on the 13th of that month destroyed all progress. John Green of Newcastle was tasked with the redesign, which he based on his previous work on the Scotswood suspension bridge.[33] | 54°31′35″N 1°50′12″W / 54.52639°N 1.83667°W[H 12][H 13][H 14] |
Winston Bridge | ![]() | 1763[34] | Originally built as part of a toll road from Staindrop to Richmond, and now carries the B6274. Designed by armature architect Sir Thomas Robinson.[34] | 54°32′29″N 1°46′52″W / 54.54139°N 1.78111°W[H 15][H 16] |
West Tees Railway Bridge | ![]() | 1856 | Pair of railway viaducts built as part of the former Darlington and Barnard Castle Railway. The railway had to be rerouted, to avoid Lord Barnard's Selaby Hall. The original bridges where destroyed in a flood in 1855.[35][36][37] | 54°33′3″N 1°45′27″W / 54.55083°N 1.75750°W |
Gainford Railway Bridge | 1856 | 54°32′52″N 1°44′47″W / 54.54778°N 1.74639°W | ||
Barforth Hall Bridge | ![]() | 1953 | Built by a farmer to access a field, but over the years came to be used by the homeowners of Barforth Hall. A pier collapsed in 2002, and the bridge continued to deteriorate, with a dispute arising in 2009 about who owned the bridge, and who had the responsibility to upkeep it.[38][39][40] | 54°32′43″N 1°44′42″W / 54.54528°N 1.74500°W |
Piercebridge to Yarm
[edit]Crossing | Photo | Opened | Notes | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|
Piercebridge Pipe Bridge | ![]() | 1956 | water pipe | 54°32′7″N 1°41′19″W / 54.53528°N 1.68861°W |
Piercebridge Bridge | ![]() | 16th century[H 17][H 18][H 19] | The outer arches date to the 16th century, with central arch dated to 1673. The bridge was widened in 1789.[41] | 54°32′5″N 1°40′33″W / 54.53472°N 1.67583°W[H 17][H 18][H 19] |
A1(M) Bridge, Low Coniscliffe | 1961 | Built in 1961, in advance of the A1(M) Darlington bypass, which opened in 1965. As the part of the road around the river largely follows the alignment of the former Merrybent Railway, this bridge is sited at the location of a former railway bridge, which had been destroyed by fire in 1952.[7][42] | 54°30′55″N 1°37′18″W / 54.51528°N 1.62167°W | |
Blackwell Bridge | ![]() | 1832[33] | Formerly carried the Great North Road, now carries the A66. Designed by John Green, it was his first masonry bridge. It was widened in 1961.[33] | 54°30′29″N 1°35′3″W / 54.50806°N 1.58417°W[H 20] |
Croft Bridge | ![]() | 15th century | A167 road | 54°28′59″N 1°33′16″W / 54.48306°N 1.55444°W[H 21][H 22] |
Croft Viaduct | ![]() | 1840 | East Coast Main Line | 54°28′38″N 1°33′10″W / 54.47722°N 1.55278°W[H 23][H 24] |
Low Hail Bridge | ![]() | 1879[43] | A privately owned bridge originally built to carry sewage to a treatment plant, that has since closed. Designed by civil engineer Robert Robinson, to an American design, it was completed in 1879.[44][43] | 54°29′7″N 1°31′20″W / 54.48528°N 1.52222°W |
Neasham Hall Bridge | ![]() | 1909 | Built for industrialist and politician Thomas Wrightson, to connect his country house, Sockburn Hall (also known as Neasham Hall), to the church in Eryholme, without having to use the existing ford.[45] | 54°28′42″N 1°29′56″W / 54.47833°N 1.49889°W[H 25] |
Girsby Bridge | ![]() | 1870 | The owner of the land around the All Saints Church, Girsby, Theophania Blackett of Sockburn Hall, closed the church and the original wooden bridge near by, restricting both for her family's private use. Darlington Highway Board sued, and she was eventually forced to restore access to the church by building a new bridge, completed in 1870.[14][44] | 54°28′7″N 1°27′31″W / 54.46861°N 1.45861°W |
Fishlocks Bridge | 1987[7] | Built by the local land owner to access his private land on either side of the river. Built on the site of an ancient ford, and down stream of a ferry. It was designed by Simpson Coulson and Partners, Stockton.[7] | 54°29′2″N 1°27′36″W / 54.48389°N 1.46000°W | |
Over Dinsdale Bridge | ![]() | 1830s | The present deck of bridge dates from 1956, placed on top of the original stone columns. Before that it had been a toll-bridge operated by the Over Dinsdale Estate.[46] | 54°29′47″N 1°28′2″W / 54.49639°N 1.46722°W |
Yarm to the river mouth
[edit]See also
[edit]- Tees Railway Viaduct (1860–1971).
References
[edit]Notes
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ "Bridges over the Tees" (PDF). myice.ice.org.uk. Institute of Civil Engineers. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ a b Fitzpatrick, A. P.; Scott, Peter R. (1999). "The Roman Bridge at Piercebridge, North Yorkshire-County Durham". Britannia. 30: 111–132. doi:10.2307/526675. JSTOR 526675. S2CID 162361828.
- ^ "Bridge over troubled water: Roman finds from the Tees at Piercebridge and beyond | The Past". The Past. Current Archarology. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ a b Harrison, David (7 October 2004). The Bridges of Medieval England: Transport and Society 400-1800. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-155679-1.
- ^ a b c Warwick, Tosh. "The Politics of Bridge Building: The Long Wait for the Tees (Newport) Bridge". Cleveland & Teesside Local History Society. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ Rennison, Robert William (2019). "The Great Inundation of 1771 and the Rebuilding of the North-East's Bridges" (PDF). Archaeologia Aeliana. 29: 269291. doi:10.5284/1061067. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Betteney, Alan (2019). "Crossing the Tees: Fords, Ferries and Bridges" (PDF). River Tees Rediscovered. Tees Archaeology: 31–32. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ "Bridges on the Tees". Bridges on the Tyne. 2001. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
- ^ "OpenData support | OS Tools & Support".
- ^ "Birkdale Footbridge". Bridges on the Tyne. 2001. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "A new Bridge". The Journal. 3 August 1844. p. 2. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "Winch Bridge". Bridges on the Tyne. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ White, Andrew (13 February 2022). "What's the story behind County Durham's wobbly bridge - and its tragic history?". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Disputes, sewage and a great big party: Six of the best bridges". The Northern Echo. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ "Scoberry Footbridge". Bridges On The Tyne. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ Roberts, Pevsner & Williamson 2021, p. 552.
- ^ Woodhouse 1991, p. 17.
- ^ a b "Bridge makes link so walkers can enjoy circuit on popular footpath". The Northern Echo. 9 May 2002. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ Paul, Martin (27 February 2020). "Plea to protect 'rotting' wooden bridges". Teesdale Mercury. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ Roberts, Pevsner & Williamson 2021, p. 384.
- ^ Ramsden 1947, p. 41 & 111.
- ^ Woodhouse 1991, p. 22-23.
- ^ "Reopening of Barnard Castle's Silver Bridge put back to the spring". The Teesdale Mercury.co.uk. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ Atkinson, Frank (1989). Victorian Britain : the North East. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. p. 206. ISBN 978-0-7153-8747-4. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "A Footpath for the Deepdale Aqueduct". The North-Eastern Daily Gazette. 25 January 1890. p. 3. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ a b Roberts, Pevsner & Williamson 2021, p. 108.
- ^ Emett, Charlie (2007). Discovering County Durham & Teesside. Stroud : Sutton. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-7509-4670-4.
- ^ Lloyd, Chris (26 June 2024). "Milling about in Barney: the huge shoe thread factory once dominated a town". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Lloyd, Chris (7 December 2019). "Why a stonemason carved the wrong date on Barnard Castle's 450-year-old County Bridge". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Lloyd, Chris (19 March 2022). "Bridges of Barney: Why this landmark opened with no ceremony at all". Darlington and Stockton Times. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ Chris, Lloyd (24 April 2021). "The Barnard Castle footbridge that snapped in half during massive storm". Darlington and Stockton Times. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ a b Woodhouse 1991, p. 31.
- ^ a b c d Rennison, R. W. (1981). "3. County Durham and Cleveland". Civil Engineering Heritage Northern England. the Institution of Civil Engineers. pp. 70–101 – via ICE Virtual Library.
- ^ a b Lloyd, Chris (1 August 2018). "Flying back to day Ray Hanna piloted Spitfire under Winston Bridge". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "West Tees Railway Bridge". Bridges on the Tyne. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "Gainford Railway Bridge". Bridges On The Tyne. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Lloyd, Chris (27 November 2023). "Dicing with death on the lost railway line from Darlington to Barnard Castle". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Police warning over fears of bridge collapse". The Northern Echo. 24 October 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Bridge solution". Darlington and Stockton Times. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Lloyd, Chris (6 November 2009). "Baffled by Barforth, full of history and mystery". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Roberts, Pevsner & Williamson 2021, p. 574.
- ^ Lloyd, Chris (6 June 2020). "150 years of the Darlington & Merrybent Railway that had a station which famously never sold a ticket". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ a b Lloyd, Chris (14 January 2017). "The death of a gentleman's servant and a Hurworth bridge build to carry sewage". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ a b Lloyd, Chris (11 July 2019). "Top 10 most curious bridges, including one built by God". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ Lloyd, Chris (7 May 2013). "Family seat was a wright old pile". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ Woodhouse 1991, p. 55.
- ^ "Yarm Bridge". Stockton Heritage. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
Historic England
[edit]- ^ Historic England. "WYNCH BRIDGE, Holwick (1121562)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "MIDDLETON BRIDGE, Holwick (1160160)". National Heritage List for England.
- ^ Historic England. "MIDDLETON BRIDGE, Holwick (1203554)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "EGGLESTON BRIDGE, Eggleston (1121638)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "DEEPDALE AQUEDUCT (THAT PART IN BARNARD CASTLE CIVIL PARISH), Barnard Castle (1291706)". National Heritage List for England.
- ^ Historic England. "DEEPDALE AQUEDUCT, Barnard Castle (1310593)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "BARNARD CASTLE BRIDGE, OVER THE RIVER TEES, Startforth (1121647)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "BARNARD CASTLE BRIDGE (THAT PART IN BARNARD CASTLE CIVIL PARISH) AND ATTACHED WALL TO SOUTH EAST, Barnard Castle (1201056)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "Barnard Castle Bridge, Barnard Castle (1002353)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "FOOTBRIDGE OVER RIVER TEES (THAT PART IN BARNARD CASTLE CIVIL PARISH), Barnard Castle (1291732)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "ABBEY BRIDGE, Egglestone Abbey (1310824)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "WHORLTON BRIDGE, Whorlton (116001)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "WHORLTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE, OVER THE RIVER TEES, Wycliffe with Thorpe (1322762)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "Whorlton suspension bridge, Whorlton (1002299)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "WINSTON BRIDGE, OVER THE RIVER TEES, Barforth (1121747)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "WINSTON BRIDGE, Barforth (1323060)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ a b Historic England. "PIERCE BRIDGE, Piercebridge (1131363)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ a b Historic England. "PIERCEBRIDGE BRIDGE, Piercebridge (1145843)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ a b Historic England. "Piercebridge Bridge, Piercebridge (1002344)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "BLACKWELL BRIDGE, Non Civil Parish (1121318)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "CROFT BRIDGE, Croft-on-Tees (1116440)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "CROFT BRIDGE, Croft-on-Tees (1131364)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "TEES BRIDGE, Hurworth (1131366)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "TEES RAILWAY BRIDGE, Croft-on-Tees (1299454)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "NEASHAM HALL BRIDGE, Neasham (1299423)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "YARM VIADUCT, Yarm (1139259)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "YARM BRIDGE OVER RIVER TEES, Yarm (1105658)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "Yarm Bridge, Egglescliffe (1006763)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
Bibliography
[edit]- Ramsden, Doglas M. (1947). Teesdale. 11 Gower Street, London: Museum Press Limited.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location (link) - Roberts, Martin; Pevsner, Nikolaus; Williamson, Elizabeth (2021). The Buildings of England: County Durham. New Haven, CT ; London: Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300225044.
- Woodhouse, Robert (1991). The River Tees: A North Country River. Lavenham: Terence Dalton Limited. ISBN 0861380916.
External links
[edit]- "The Bridges of the Tees". BBC Plades. 16 January 2009.