Swing Bridge

Built by Sir W.G. Armstrong's company to replace the 1781 stone bridge demolished in 1868, this span was designed to let larger ships reach Armstrong's works upstream. It carried its first road traffic on 15 June 1876 and first opened for river traffic on 17 July 1876, turning on hydraulic machinery that is still in use, now electrically powered, roughly four times a week. The Roman crossing Pons Aelius stood on approximately the same site around 122. It is listed Grade II*.

Coordinates: 54.9670216, -1.6070755

Part of The bridges over the Tyne between Newcastle and Gateshead

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