High Level Bridge

Designed by Robert Stephenson and built between 1847 and 1849, it is the first major example of a wrought iron tied arch or bow-string girder bridge. It is a fine and long standing engineering solution to a difficult problem; the spanning of 1337 feet of river valley, including 512 feet across water. The High Level Bridge has six river spans of 125 feet (38 m) length, sitting on masonry piers, 46 by 16 feet in section and up to 131 feet (40 m) height. There are also four land spans on each side, of 36 feet 3 inches. The single carriageway road and pedestrian walkways occupy the lower deck of the spans, 85 feet above the high water mark, and the railway the upper deck 112 above the high water mark. The total weight of the structure is 5,000 tons.

The bridge was closed to road traffic in February 2005 to allow essential maintenance to ensure the bridge's long-term future, including replacement of wooden supports beneath the road deck. It was expected to reopen in late-2005, however, the reopening has now slipped as severe cracks were found in some of the bridge's iron girders. Having assessed the bridge, engineers have decided a crash barrier on each side of the roadway is necessary, meaning that there will be space for only one lane of traffic when the bridge reopens.

Description courtesy of Wikipedia.

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26th January 2025

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6th October 2024

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28th August 2023

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17th July 2023

Harry Clasper Plaque.

The plaque reads: Henry ‘Harry’ Clasper 1812-1870 World champion rower and pioneering boat builder: the father of modern rowing.

“Competed in over 130 races, many on the Tyne from High Level Bridge to Scotswood Bridge.

More on Harry Clasper(Wikipedia).

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27th December 2018

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20th July 2018

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16th April 2018

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8th January 2018

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22nd December 2015

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17th September 2015

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8th January 2015

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3rd December 2014

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9th July 2014

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30th January 2014

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25th November 2013

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21st October 2012

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16th January 2012

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12th September 2010

The High Level Bridge from The Castle Keep.

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10th December 2009

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11th May 2009

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25th April 2009

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13th September 2008

Taken from the nearby Castle Keep.

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26th July 2008

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4th June 2008

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2nd June 2008

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2nd May 2008

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24th March 2008

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7th March 2008

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11th February 2008

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10th October 2007

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5th October 2007

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31st March 2006

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29th March 2006

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20th January 2006

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28th December 2005

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20th December 2005

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19th November 2005

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23rd August 2005

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21st August 2005

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More Information:

• Sitelines: High Level Bridge
• Sitelines: High Level Bridge, pillbox
• BBC: Euro award for bridge restoration
• Wikipedia: High Level Bridge
• Historic England: High Level Bridge
• Network Rail: History of the High Level Bridge
• Bridges On The Tyne: High Level Bridge
• Get Carter Locations: High Level Bridge
• Co-Curate: High Level Bridge
• Grace's Guide: High Level Bridge

My other photos of bridges over the Tyne:

• Quayside Bridges, Bamboo Bridge (2008)
• Quayside Bridges, King Edward VII Bridge
• Quayside Bridges, Millennium Bridge
• Quayside Bridges, Millennium Bridge Bollards Removal
• Quayside Bridges, QE II Bridge (Metro Bridge)
• Quayside Bridges, Redheugh Bridge
• Quayside Bridges, Swing Bridge
• Quayside Bridges, Tyne Bridge