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Newcastle Swing Bridge is a Victorian iron swing bridge crossing the River Tyne in Newcastle upon Tyne, constructed between 1876 and 1876 and opened in 1881. Designed by engineer William Gustave Armstrong with Sir John Fowler, it was a revolutionary engineering achievement, being the world's first hydraulically powered swing bridge and one of the largest of its kind at the time of construction. The bridge comprises a central pivoting span of cast and wrought iron, some 281 feet in length, which rotates to allow shipping passage beneath whilst fixed approach spans provide the connection to the riverbanks. Its innovative hydraulic mechanism and robust Victorian engineering remain substantially intact, making it a significant example of nineteenth-century industrial technology and an important landmark in the development of modern bridge design.
Newcastle Swing Bridge is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1003722. View the official record →
Newcastle Swing Bridge is a Victorian iron swing bridge crossing the River Tyne in Newcastle upon Tyne, constructed between 1876 and 1876 and opened in 1881. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1003722.
Newcastle Swing Bridge is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1003722.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Newcastle upon Tyne town defences: section of curtain wall including Closegate and Water Tower (0.3 km), Newcastle upon Tyne town defences: section of curtain wall and town ditch between Forth Street and Hanover Street (0.4 km), DUNSTON STAITHS (2 km).
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Research the area around Newcastle Swing Bridge