NorthEast
Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Northumberland, Durham
HULNE PARK, ALNWICK 1812 NU163 153 N55o 25' 50.1" W0o 44' 39"
PRIVATE LAND At the Duke of Northumberland's estate Hulne Park in Alnwick, there are three iron bridges over the River Witham which winds through the large property. The earliest is known as The Iron Bridge (N55o 25’ 50.1” W1o 44’ 39”). It was designed by David Stephenson and built in 1812. It has recently been completely rebuilt and restored after severe damage by floods. This is a three span bridge whose arches are very similar to those of the iron bridge at the Duke's Syon Park estate near London which was designed by James Wyatt and built in 1790. They are formed by loops and circles of wrought iron. The parapets and post are more in the style of other bridges of the early 1800s. There is an iron inscription saying L&T Cookson, Newcastle 1812. This bridge is about 12 feet wide and perhaps 60 feet in length. It is used regularly to carry vehicular farm traffic.
The second oldest bridge is known as the Duchess Bridge (N51o 48’ 17.1 W0o 3’ 24”). It is the most extraordinary of the three in its construction and would be classified as a lenticular bridge. Although exhibiting some battering due to floods and off limits to even foot traffic, it spans over 100 feet in length in one span and is about four feet in width.
It is an early tied-arch by which is meant that the horizontal bars are in tension to maintain the bow of the arched deck. The shallow arch of the bridge is supported by cast iron feet resting on two level iron pipes. The parapet consists of slender posts and two horizontal rails (now supplemented by wire mesh). The effect is very airy and original. It's date is probably late Regency judging only by the style of the posts: 1820's or 30's.
The third bridge is another foot bridge near the ruins of the Hulne Priory which is a suspension bridge probably of 20th century provenance. It too is very original in its construction.
Hulne Park is located on the western edge of the town of Alnwick. Take the road opposite the Alnwick Castle gate courtyard: Bailiff's Gate Road up hill and keep bearing to the left to the gates of Hulne Park. You must park outside the gate as only pedestrians are allowed within the park during daylight hours. Since it is vast, be sure to read the map posted by the gate which has the bridges marked and prepare for a delightful, if very long walk: half an hour to the Duchess Bridge and perhaps an hour to The Iron Bridge.
- Details
- Written by: Administrator
- Category: NorthEast
HORSFORTH BRIDGE 1819 YORKSHIRE HEW 189 SE 239 368 N53o 48' 57.9" W1O 36' 25.7" (See write up on Newlay Horseforth Br.)
This charming small bridge below the town of Horsforth was built by John Pollard of Newlay House to cross the River Aire. It was cast by Aydon and Elwell of Shelf Ironworks near Bradford. It was originally built as a toll road between Horsforth and Newlay. Its 82 foot span is carried by four cast iron ribs with rhomboidal pierced design in the spandrels. Since it is only ten feet wide, it is now a foot bridge. It was repaired in 1973.
It is the devil to find. After two hours of following well meaning but faulty directions, I finally found two ladies who knew exactly where it was. On the high street of Horsforth A65, look on the west side for a small street called Victoria Gardens. Keep going down and down hill until you come to a close on the river beside the bridge.
- Details
- Written by: Administrator
- Category: NorthEast
HORKSTOW BRIDGE 1836 Sir John Rennie LINCOLNSHIRE HEW 598 SE973 190 N53O 39' 30.2" W0o 31' 41.4"
Rennie designed this bridge as part of his 1825-44 River Ancholme Drainage Scheme and it remains just as he designed it. The sophisticated masonry towers have semi-elliptical arches over the 14 foot wide roadway. The single span of 134 feet has double wrought iron suspension chains, each of which is made up of seven foot long rods, on either side of the bridge. Square iron hangers support the 33 timber cross members under the wood deck. There is a lot play in the convex road bed when the bridge is crossed by a vehicle. Fortunately, it is located on a country road that experiences very light traffic.
- Details
- Written by: Administrator
- Category: NorthEast
HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE HEW 22 NZ252 437 1846-49 N54o 58' 7.5" W1o 36' 20.2"
This spectacular bridge by Robert Stephenson with the help of Thomas E. Harrison is both a railway and a road bridge. The tracks are supported at the tops of the arches by the masonry columns and the roadway is hung from the arches by wrought iron tension rods at a height of 120 feet above the River Tyne. The outward thrust of the arches is contained by wrought iron tension chains at the road level. There are six spans of 125 feet each and the approach viaducts are masonry. Hawks, Crawshay and Sons provided the iron work. (See also write up under Newcastle High Level Bridge)
To find the bridge take turn-off for City Centre South and follow A167 to the end and then the signs for Quayside. Sunday is a good day to visit: there is no traffic; there is a quayside market that day which is festive and parking is one pound for the day.
- Details
- Written by: Administrator
- Category: NorthEast