Hexham Bridge

Hexham Bridge
Hexham Bridge
Coordinates	54°58′37″N 2°05′38″W / 54.977°N 2.094°W / 54.977; -2.094Coordinates: 54°58′37″N 2°05′38″W / 54.977°N 2.094°W / 54.977; -2.094
Carries	road traffic
Crosses	River Tyne
Locale	Northumberland
Heritage status	Grade II* listed
Characteristics
Design	arch, 9 segmental spans, stone
History
Construction end	1793[1]
Statistics
Toll	No
Hexham Bridge  Hexham Bridge shown within Northumberland grid reference NY941646

Hexham Bridge is a road bridge in Northumberland, England linking Hexham with the North Tyne valley. It lies north of the town of Hexham and is the main access to the A69 bypass.

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 a Mr. Gait 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 fifty 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".^[2] This first bridge, Hexham Old Bridge, was about 1 mile (2 km) upstream of the present bridge close by Old Bridge End farm. (grid reference NY929653)

The authorities next approached Smeaton whose name as an engineer was famous. John Errington of Beaufront was given the contract for the sum of £5,700 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 [others^[1] give 1781]. However on March 10, 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 famous 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. Today this handsome bridge still stands as a monument to his genius.^[2]

It is listed as a Grade II* building by Historic England.^[3]

References