Newport Bridge, Newport
| Newport Bridge | |
| Monmouthshire | |
|---|---|
 Newport Bridge in 2011 | |
| Location | |
| Carrying: | Motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians |
| Crossing: | River Usk |
| Location | |
| Location: | 51°35’26"N, 2°59’38"W |
| Structure | |
| Design: | Five-span Arch bridge |
| History | |
| Built 1927 | |
| Information | |
| Owned by: | Newport City Council |
Newport Bridge connects High Street and Clarence Place across the River Usk adjacent to Newport Castle in Newport city centre.
The 1800 bridge
The first stone bridge on the site was a bridge of five arches, erected in the year 1800 by David Edwards (son of William Edwards). It was widened and improved in 1866 by adding footpaths on both sides.[1]
The original foundation stone bearing the inscription "This bridge was erected at the expense of the County by David Edwards and his two sons William and Thomas. Completed AD MDCCC." is now set into the stonework of Caerleon Bridge.
Paddle Steamers
A blue plaque on the bridge erected by Newport Civic Society commemorates the Newport harbour commissioners landing stage and states "Paddle steamers of P&A Campbell's famous white funnel fleet regularly sailed from near this point. Opened in the 1880's, extended in the mid 1890's and closed in the 1950's".[2]
Houdini
On 5 March 1913 the famous escape artist Harry Houdini jumped off Newport Bridge with his hands manacled and his feet shackled. He had been turned back by police but caught a taxi cab across the bridge and entered from the opposite side.[3] He was arrested the following week by the police for obstructing a public highway and for holding a public entertainment on the bridge.
The new bridge
In 1911 the Corporation sought designs for a new replacement bridge.[1] In December 1923 a decision was made to proceed immediately with the construction of the new bridge, partly as a scheme to find work for the unemployed.[4]
To best achieve this a temporary wooden bridge was erected alongside it[1] and all power and gas lines were re-routed onto it. Even the tram lines and their accompanying overhead power system were moved over. The old bridge was then demolished and the new one erected.
On 22 June 1927 the new bridge was complete and opened to traffic by the Transport Minister Wilfrid Ashley.
The Stone Roses
The new bridge has the stone cherub and shield on four of the pillars that were modelled after the coat of arms of Newport and mounted on the bridge.
In 1994 John Squire, guitarist of The Stone Roses designed the cover of their hit single Love Spreads based on a photograph of a stone cherub on Newport Bridge. The song was the band's biggest selling single, reaching number 2 in the UK charts. The cherub design was found on many pieces of Second Coming merchandise, the album from which Love Spreads is taken.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Peter Brown, Newport's Town Bridge: A Brief History, NewportPast.com
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ "Manacled Expert Leaps Into the River Usk". Western Times (Exeter): p. 4. 13 March 1913. http://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000265%2f19130313%2f047. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
- ↑ "Newport Bridge Scheme". Gloucester Citizen: p. 2. 19 December 1923. http://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000265%2f19130313%2f047. Retrieved 10 September 2015.