The first major book dedicated to the history of the Tyne Bridge is published today.
It comes just six years ahead of the centenary of the spectacular arched river crossing that has linked Newcastle and Gateshead since 1928, is beloved of Geordies everywhere, and has become a physical symbol of Tyneside famous around the world.
The Tyne Bridge: Icon Of North East England is the work of Paul Brown, a Tynesider who has written for national newspapers and magazines, and whose books include two authoritative accounts of the early years of Newcastle United. "It's taken about two years to write and has involved a huge amount of research," says Paul. "My intention was not just to write an account of the Tyne Bridge, but to wrap it all up as a history of wider Tyneside."
READ MORE: Police mugshots of Newcastle criminals of the 1930s
For those who find the subject of the River Tyne and its bridges so compelling, or for those simply interested in the general history of our region, the book is a must-read. The back stories of the modern Tyne Bridge's predecessors - the Roman, medieval, and Georgian bridges - are told in full. And the life and times of the nearby Swing, King Edward VII, Redheugh and High Level bridges are also recounted with some long-forgotten items pulled from archive newspapers and books vividly bringing the past to life. I particularly enjoyed the stories of daredevil Victorian Geordies who would hurl themselves from the heights of the newly-built High Level Bridge into the depths of the murky River Tyne for bets. As they say, "don't try this at home, folks!"
The planning for the New Tyne Bridge (to give it its full title) linking Pilgrim Street in Newcastle and Gateshead High Street began 100 years ago in 1922, with the work commencing on the huge engineering challenge in 1924. The book covers every aspect of the bridge's planning, construction, opening by King George V, as well as its more recent history in more detail than ever before.
The long-time bar-room argument of 'which came first, the Tyne Bridge or the Sydney Harbour Bridge?' is finally laid to rest. Although the two share similar features, neither the Tyne Bridge nor the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a copy of the other. They were built concurrently, and the smaller Tyne Bridge was the first to be completed. The designs for both were inspired by an entirely different bridge—the Hell Gate Bridge in New York.
For many decades, it was widely believed that only one worker died during the construction - Nathaniel Collins, who fell from the arch in February 1928. More recently, one of my own stories on ChronicleLive revealed that a second man, Frank McCoy, was killed in February 1926 during the sinking of the foundations. The new book reveals that, in fact, a third man was killed while building the abutment towers, and tells the full tragic story.
The story of pioneering female engineer Dot Buchanan, a forgotten figure in the construction of the Tyne Bridge, is also told. In 1927, during her work on the bridge, Buchanan became the first woman among almost 10,000 men to be granted membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers. “I felt that I represented all the women in the world,” she later said. “It was my hope that I would be followed by many others.”
It's also not well-known that the Tyne Bridge was almost blown up during World War II. The bridge was a conspicuous visual reference—and a prize target—for Nazi bombers. On 2 July 1940, a bomber’s payload narrowly missed the Tyne Bridge and sailed over the Swing and High Level bridges. One of the bombs hit Spiller’s Old Flour Mill on the Close, just to the west of the High Level. Thirteen people were killed in the raid, including several children, and 123 were injured.
Coming right up to date, the book includes the recent news that, after a period of well-publicised neglect, the Tyne Bridge will undergo substantial refurbishment and repair work, returning it to its full glory in time for its 100th anniversary in 2028. Thoroughly researched, endlessly fascinating and highly readable, Paul Brown's book is the new definitive work on a North East icon and its place in a region that has changed almost beyond recognition since the building and opening of the Tyne Bridge nearly 100 years ago.
The Tyne Bridge: Icon Of North East England by Paul Brown is published by Hurst on November 3, 2022 . The hardback book is priced £16.99.
Paul Brown will be talking about his book at the Books On Tyne Festival, Newcastle City Library, on Tuesday November 22. Full details here.
READ NEXT:
