South Shields, River Drive, bridge

HER Number:
14431

District:
S Tyneside

Site Name:
South Shields, River Drive, bridge

Place:
South Shields

Map Sheet:
NZ36NE

Class:
Transport

Site Type: Broad:
Road Transport Site

Site Type: Specific:
Road Bridge

General Period:
Modern

Specific Period:
C20

Form of Evidence:
Structure

Description:
River Drive Bridge dates from the 1930s, when the riverside underwent large-scale transformation. Most of the 18th Century dwellings had already been demolished and replaced by new industries. The bridge was needed in order to make them more accessible than the existing narrow thoroughfares. This was no small undertaking since the bridge had to cross the railway terminus. The bridge, originally known as Heugh Bridge, took two months to build, at a cost of £35,000, and was officially opened in August 1939 by the then Minister of Transport, Captain Euan Wallace. The bridge is similar in appearance to the Tyne Bridge, but on a much smaller scale. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the River Drive Bridge confused German bombers during World War II, thinking that they were over Newcastle upon Tyne. LOCAL LIST

Easting:
3608

Northing:
6749

Grid Reference:
NZ36086749

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
SOUTH TYNESIDE LOCAL LIST REVIEW 2011: REFERENCE NUMBER: LSHA/37/SS; Janis Blower, All T’gethor Like The Folk o’ Shields; Shields Gazette archive