'It's grim up North' - a phrase and stereotype attributed to the renowned 1930s writer JB Priestley - is, of course, a glaring falsehood.
But, there are images taken up North, such as this one, that undeniably exude a certain 'grimness'. This was Scotswood Railway Bridge on a gloomy January day 95 years ago. The smoking chimneys and dingy buildings under a grey winter sky recall an urban River Tyne, in 1928, that was defined by heavy industry, noise, and grime.
If we're all familiar with the famous bridges of the Tyne that link Newcastle and Gateshead, and contribute to the well-known spectacle provided by the Tyne gorge, what of the bridges further upriver that connect Scotswood and Blaydon? The now-defunct Scotswood Railway Bridge is one of a number of Scotswood Bridges, past and present.
