Hexham Bridge
| Hexham Bridge | |
| Northumberland | |
|---|---|
_-_geograph.org.uk_-_818721.jpg) Hexham Bridge | |
| Location | |
| Carrying: | A6079 road |
| Crossing: | River Tyne |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NY940646 |
| Location: | 54°58’36"N, 2°5’39"W |
| Structure | |
| Design: | Arch bridge |
| Material: | Stone |
| History | |
| Built 1793 | |
| Architect: | Robert Mylne |
| Information | |
Hexham Bridge is a road bridge in Northumberland, crossing the River Tyne in Hexham, connecting Hexham on the south bank with the A69 which runs along the north bank, and with the Bridge End Industrial estate. The bridge is the main access to the A69; the town's bypass, and therefore eastwards to the county's major city, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Apart from the Hexham A69 Bridge just upstream, this is the highest bridge on the Tyne before the point where the North Tyne and South Tyne join, a mile and half to the west of the town.
History
The Tyne was crossed by two ferries called the east and the west boats (Warden Bridge). As a result of persistent agitation, a bridge was started in 1767 and completed in 1770. It was built by Mr Galt and consisted of seven arches. Less than a year later it was swept away in the great Tyne flood of 1771. In that flood, eight bridges shared the fate of Hexham. In 1774 a new attempt was made 50 yards to the west by Mr Wooler, an engineer who had been working on the new Newcastle bridge. Piles were sunk to carry the piers but work was abandoned on discovering that the "soil beneath the gravel was a quicksand with no more resistance than chaff".[1] This first bridge, Hexham Old Bridge, was about a mile upstream of the present bridge.
The authorities next approached John Smeaton, whose name as an engineer was famous. Henry Errington of Sandhoe was given the contract for the sum of £4,700,[2] and work started in 1777. Although the half-completed piers were washed away the following year, work continued and the new bridge was opened to traffic in 1780. However, on 10 March 1782, there was a heavy fall of snow followed by a violent hurricane. The valleys of the north and south Tyne were inundated and the nine arches were completely overturned. They are still visible and act as a sort of weir. Robert Mylne, a renowned architect and engineer, was called in to report on the feasibility of rebuilding Smeaton's bridge. He was eventually given the contract to build a fourth bridge, and the work was completed in 1793.[1]
It is a Grade II* listed structure.[3]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Hexham Bridge) |
- Hexham Bridge: Bridges on the Tyne
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Graham, Frank (1992). Hexham and Corbridge A Short History and Guide. Thropton: Butler Publishing. ISBN 0-946928-19-3.
- ↑ Northumberland Archives: Hexham Bridge Papers SANT/BEQ/1/4/1
- ↑ National Heritage List 1042629: Hexham Bridge (Grade II* listing)
| Bridges and crossings on the River Tyne | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting of the Waters | Constantius Bridge | Hexham Bridge | Corbridge Bridge | Styford Bridge | Bywell Bridge | Ovingham Bridge |