King Edward VII Bridge
This is the King Edward VII bridge. Complete with meaningless graffiti.
Behind it, you can just make out the Redheugh Bridge. I don’t really like the bridge – if you want to squint at a picture to make it out, you can go here – I’m unlikely to post another!
Morning, you’re right; the Redheugh isn’t the most attractive thing is it? It has a predecessor but I can’t picture it
Dave, there is a reminder of the old Redheugh Bridge here:
http://www.picturesofgateshead.co.uk/postcards_bridges/opcn34w.jpg
The new one was built in a hurry because the old one was becoming unsafe. There was no time to add any sort of wind protection on the new one which is why it is closed to high sided vehicles whenever it gets a bit breezy. The old bridge was originally a toll bridge and the toll booth on the Gateshead side has survived and is still in use as offices, I think.
Alf,
Thanks a lot for that info and the picture. It looks like it was quite a narrow bridge compared to the new one! I really had no recollection of it, apart from a rough idea of where it originally spanned the river, and I think it was a bit lower than the current one. Cheers again – I’ll see if I can spot the former toll booth that you mention!
Dave
Dave, the old bridge had one lane in each direction and, as you say, was quite a bit lower than the new one. I doubt if you could see the toll booth form the new bridge especially from the roadway. I used to get the bus to school over the old bridge and we used to dread cattle market day because farmers would keep their stock on the Gateshead side and then drive the herds across the bridge to the cattle market in Newcastle often at rush hour. My teachers were always sceptical of the excuse “cattle on the bridge, sir” when explaining why we were late.
Beth, sorry if we have highjacked your site but the pictures are good too.
hijack away – i’ll keep saying it til you all believe me – i love to hear what you all have to say!
Alf,
That is a wonderful piece – thanks. I love the idea of ‘cattle on the bridge’ being given as the excuse – that’s just great. I’ll have a wonder round there sometime below the level of the bridge see what I can spot! I have a rough idea where you mean actually.
I think, unless I’m dreaming, Lady Diana (as she would’ve been) opened the new bridge. At that time, I worked in a garage at the top of George Street, and as you know, you can look down that street and be looking right down towards the bridge. That would be about 1983-ish – does that sound about the time the new bridge was opened?
Spot on, Dave, it was opened by Diana, Princess of Wales in 1983. To see the old toll booth you need to head for Clasper Village. On a steep left hand bend you can see the new bridge above you to the right and just below it is the toll booth. It has a couple of Gateshead’s famous street art examples nearby.
Looking at the old picture, I start wondering how the former bridge was “becoming” unsafe. Man, it looks like it it was a rather thin and shaky construction from day one…
Anyway, did the powers that be ever think of adding wind protection to the bridge now? This can’t be impossible, can it?
Daniel – yep, it looks rather precarious doesn’t it?! Interesting question about adding wind protection… it would be pretty difficult – it’s a very busy bridge – but I’m sure it would be worth it. I wonder if it’s not possible for some reason?
Cheers very much Alf; will go for looking for that and let you know how I get on!
Good question about the ‘missing’ wind protection… perhaps it would’ve been deemed too expensive.