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Wearmouth Bridge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wearmouth Bridge | |
 The current Wearmouth Bridge - constructed in 1929 |
|
| Carries | Motor vehicles (A183 road) Pedestrians |
|---|---|
| Crosses | River Wear |
| Locale | Sunderland, England |
| Design | compression arch suspended-deck bridge |
| Longest span | 375ft |
| Width | One two-lane carriageway) (southbound), Three carriageway (northbound), two cycle/footpaths (total 48 ft) |
| Clearance below | 105 ft |
| Opening date | 1929 |
The Wearmouth Bridge is a compression arch suspended-deck bridge across the River Wear in Sunderland. It is the final bridge over the river before its mouth with the North Sea.
The current bridge is the third Wearmouth Bridge in its position. The first opened in 1796, and then was reconstructed in the 19th century.
Contents |
The first Wearmouth Bridge opened in 1796, with the foundation stone having been laid in September 1793. It was sponsored by Rowland Burdon, the MP. According to the plaque on the current bridge, its construction "proved to be a catalyst for the growth of Sunderland," since access between Monkwearmouth and Bishopwearmouth had previously only been by ferry, with the nearest bridge at Chester-le-Street. There was originally a toll for traffic and pedestrians, although tolls for pedestrians were abolished in 1846.
It was the second iron bridge built after the famous span at Ironbridge, but was over twice as long with a nominal span of 240 feet, and only three-quarters the weight. Indeed, at the time of building, it was the biggest single span bridge in the world. It opened to traffic on 9 August 1796, having cost a total of about £28,000.[1]
In 1805 the bridge had to be repaired after heat from the sun caused some of the cross tubes to fall out.[2]
From 1857 to 1859 it was reconstructed by Robert Stephenson, who stripped the bridge back to its six iron ribs and levelled the hump in its middle by raising the abutments. The bridge was reopened in March 1859, with the toll completely abolished in 1885.[1]
To accommodate the growing volume of traffic, construction began on the current bridge in 1927. It was designed by Mott, Hay and Anderson. The new bridge was built around the old one to allow the road to remain open.[2] It was opened on 31 October 1929 by the Duke of York (who would later become King George VI).[3]
The cost of the bridge amounted to £231,943 of which £12,000 was spent on dismantling the old bridge.[3]
It is described by Nikolaus Pevsner, the recognised authority, as being of superb elegance.[citation needed]
The adjoining railway bridge was built in 1879, and extended the railway south from Monkwearmouth to the centre of Sunderland.[4]
Further up the river, another bridge, the Queen Alexandra Bridge, was completed in 1909, linking the areas of Pallion and Southwick.[5]
- ^ a b Sunderland Wearmouth Bridge. Wearside Onliine. Retrieved on 2006-09-24.
- ^ a b LOCAL STUDIES CENTRE FACT SHEET NUMBER 7: The Wearmouth Bridge. Local Studies Centre collection, Sunderland Public Library Service. Retrieved on 2006-09-24.
- ^ a b Vickers, Alex. The second Wearmouth Bridge. National Grid for Learning. Retrieved on 2006-09-24.
- ^ Historic Structures: Wearmouth Bridge. Sunderland City Council. Retrieved on 2006-09-24.
- ^ SINE Project: Structure detials for Queen Alexandra Bridge. University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved on 2006-10-12.