Victoria Bridge, Stockton-on-Tees

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Victoria Jubilee Bridge
County Durham, Yorkshire

Victoria Bridge over the river Tees
Location
Carrying: Bridge Road (A1130)
Crossing: River Tees
Location
Grid reference: NZ44921834
Location: 54°33’30"N, 1°18’25"W
Structure
Length: 340 feet
Main span: 110 feet
Design: Wrought iron arch
Material: Wrought and cast iron,
stone and concrete
History
Built =1887
Information

The Victoria Jubilee Bridge, also known as Victoria Bridge, is a road bridge carrying Bridge Road (A1130) east west across the River Tees between Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham and Thornaby-on-Tees in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

Commonly referred to as the Victoria Bridge, it is located just south-east of Stockton town centre.

The bridge was constructed between 1882 and 1887 under the authority of a private Act of Parliament in 1881; built by Whitaker Brothers of Leeds,[1][2][3]

The bridge was financed by the local council, a tramway company, North East Railways and by the water board,[3] and its name commemorates the 50th year of the reign of Queen Victoria.[3][4]

History

Before the existence of a bridge at this location communication was provided by Bishop's Ferry.

The first bridge was a five arch Stockton (stone) Bridge completed in 1771, designed by Joseph Robson of Sunderland.[1][3][4][5] This replaced Yarm Bridge as the lowest bridge point on the River Tees and was toll free by 1820.[6]

Design

The design is a wrought-iron arch bridge by Charles Neate and consulting engineer Harrison Haytor.[1][2][3]

The foundations of the abutments and piers are five cylindrical columns, 40 feet deep and 14 feet in diameter.[1] The abutments are faced with granite and sandstone and are filled in with large stone rubble.[5]

The bridge has three arches, or which the centre arch is 110 feet, while the side arches are 85 feet.[5]

The road is 40 feet wide and the pavement 10 feet.[7]

The balustrades are cast iron with an open design of interlocking circles, and on the parapets are ornamental cast-iron lampposts carrying modern lights while the spandrels are open cast-iron work with a design of diminishing interlocking circles.[2]

At either side of the bridge are land-based arches that are currently impassable on the upriver side. These were designed to allow horse-drawn barges to pass under the bridge.

Pictures

{{commons|

The view over the bridge roadway
The view over the bridge roadway  
The view from the east bank
The view from the east bank  
A commemorative plaque on the bridge.
A commemorative plaque on the bridge.  

Outside links

References