The Swing Bridge linking Newcastle and Gateshead marks its 150th anniversary this month. Opened to road traffic on June 15, 1876, it was hailed as a remarkable engineering feat. The bridge was designed by Sir William Armstrong and built at his Elswick works. Its hydraulic mechanism allowed it to rotate 90 degrees in 90 seconds, enabling ships up to 32 metres wide to pass along the Tyne.
A Historic Crossing
The Swing Bridge sits on the site of earlier crossings: the Roman Pons Aelius, a medieval bridge from around 1270, and the Georgian Tyne Bridge completed in 1781. The Georgian bridge had become an obstacle to shipping as industry boomed. Armstrong's bridge solved this, costing £240,000 (about £25 million today).
Industrial Powerhouse
During the industrial era, the bridge swung 6,000 times in 1924. As industry declined, so did openings: 700 in the 1970s, and just 13 in 2009. The last swing was in 2019. A fault in 2021 left it jammed shut. Newcastle Central MP Dame Chi Onwurah has called for national support to restore it.
Despite its mechanical issues, the Swing Bridge remains a cherished Victorian landmark and a vital crossing. It stands as an enduring symbol of the Tyne's industrial past.
