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THE BRIDGES of
THE TYNE
Fortunately,
Robert Stephenson, the brilliant sun of George, was equal to the
task, and the High Level Bridge is the noble tribute to the
genius of his engineering skill, and the pride of the towns
whose advancement it secured. Its cost was nearly half-a-million
pounds. It was, at the time, one of the engineering wonders of
the world, and by its solidity and strength bids fair to prove
as lasting as the Pyramids. It was opened by Queen Victoria on
28th September, 1849.
The great
increase in the number of trains, following upon the increase of
trade and population, and the need for a direct passage for
trains from London to the North, led in 1906 to the erection of
the King Edward Bridge, a little higher up the rive: than the
High Level.
The first
Redheugh Bridge was constructed about 1870, the engineer being
the engineer of the first Tay Bridge which was destroyed in a
gale of wind. Thirty years later, in 1900, the bridge company
replaced it by the present bridge.
Until the year 1850
the management of the port and bridge was under the control of
the Corporation of Newcastle. In that year the management passed
to the Tyne Improvement Commission, which was set up by
Parliament to take in hand the work of increasing the depth of
the river, and to foster its development as a port.
The Commission
has carried out its task with marked ability and foresight. It
has changed the Tyne from a shallow, dangerous stream, with
frequent wrecks on the bar at its mouth, into one of the safest
of waterways and a great world port. Two great breakwaters now
stretch out their huge arms into the sea and provide a safe
haven for the thousands of vessels of every size which every
year pass between them.
As long ago as
1572 an Admiralty Surveyor reported that " from being a
bye-word of neglect and decay, the Tyne has been converted into
the most noteworthy example of river improvement within the
bounds of the United Kingdom."
The Commission
was quick to see that the harbour could, with great advantage be
extended beyond the Tyne Bridge, but that, in order that masted
vessels could pass to the utmost limits of navigation, it was
necessary that the stone bridge, built in 1781, should be
removed.
The Swing Bridge
which took its place was completed in 1876. It was one of the
first large opening bridges of its kind, and immense benefit was
conferred on Tyneside by the opening up of the upper reaches of
the river.
Extensive
dredging soon made it possible to form a. harbour above the
bridge, where millions of tons of coal from the Durham
Coalfields have been shipped annually, and where battleships for
our own and other navies have been built.
This enormous
increase in river traffic has been accompanied by a similar
increase in the use of the roadway on the bridges, especially of
the High Level. Not only was the crowding inconvenient, but the
cost to the two towns was very great. It is stated that four
years ago the tolls on the bridge amounted to £45,000.
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