Corbridge Bridge

Corbridge Bridge is a 17th-century stone bridge across the River Tyne at Corbridge, Northumberland, England.

Corbridge Bridge
Corbridge Bridge
Coordinates54.9722°N 2.0188°W / 54.9722; -2.0188
OS grid referenceNY988641
Carries B6321 
CrossesRiver Tyne
LocaleNorthumberland
Heritage statusGrade I listed[1]
Preceded byHexham Bridge
Followed byStyford Bridge
Characteristics
MaterialStone
Total length480 ft (146 m)[2]
No. of spans7
Load limit7.5 t
No. of lanesSingle-track road controlled by traffic lights
History
Construction end1674
Opened1674 (1674)
Location

The bridge used to carry the A68 road over the River Tyne, but since the opening of the Hexham bypass (A69) the A68 now crosses by the Styford Bridge, 3 miles (5 km) downstream of Corbridge. It is listed as a Grade I building by Historic England.[1]

History

The bridge at Corbridge was built in 1235.[3] In 1298 royal officers went to Corbridge to purchase horseshoes and nails, and the tariff imposed to raise money for upkeep of the medieval bridge included tolls on nails of different kinds, horseshoes, cartwheel-sheaths, griddles, iron cauldrons and vats. The bridge was the great asset of the town. Described in 1306 as the only bridge between Newcastle and Carlisle, it was maintained also as a link between England and Scotland.[4] In 1674 [Fraser[4] has 1690] it was replaced by the seven-arched bridge we see today.[3] So well did the builder of this bridge execute his contract that his was the only one on the Tyne to withstand the Great Flood of 1771.[4][5] In 1881 it was widened by 3 ft (1 m) but its appearance was not spoilt.[3]

References
  1. Historic England. "Corbridge Bridge (Grade I) (1044808)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  2. "Corbridge Bridge". Bridges on the Tyne. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
  3. Frank Graham (1992). Hexham and Corbridge: A Short History and Guide. Thropton: Butler Publishing. ISBN 0-946928-19-3. OL 11572832M. Wikidata Q105036820.
  4. Fraser, Constance; Emsley, Kenneth (1989). Northumbria. Chichester: Phillimore & Co. pp. 78–79. ISBN 0-85033-723-2.
  5. Ridley, Nancy (1966). Portrait of Northumberland. London: Robert Hale. p. 183. ISBN 0709117191.


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