Tyne Bridge (medieval)

HER Number:
310

District:
Gateshead and Newcastle

Site Name:
Tyne Bridge (medieval)

Place:
Newcastle

Map Sheet:
NZ26SE

Class:
Transport

Site Type: Broad:

Site Type: Specific:
Bridge

General Period:
Medieval

Specific Period:
C12

Form of Evidence:
Documentary Evidence

Description:
The medieval Tyne Bridge lay on the line of the Swing Bridge, upon or close to the remains of the Roman bridge, and is probably late 12th century in origin. It is said to have been 560 feet, or 12 arches, long, of which 3 were cellars by the 18th century. At the south end was a tower with portcullis and drawbridge, in the centre a tower with portcullis, and at the north end the magazine and a 17th century gatetower. Houses were also built on the bridge, though just when is uncertain. The Blue Stone marked the boundary on the bridge between Newcastle and the Palatinate of Durham. The bridge was demolished after being damaged in the flood of 1771. One complete land arch survives under the Swing Bridge and the east face of a second may exist in the basement of Watergate Buildings. The surviving arch is described as 44 feet wide with a span of 21 feet. SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENT AND LISTED GRADE 1

Easting:
252

Northing:
638

Grid Reference:
NZ252638

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 310 >> H. Bourne, 1736, History of Newcastle, pp. 127-132 C. Hutton, 1770, Map of Newcastle margin J. Smeaton, C188 Reports, Vol. 3. pp. 252-266 -Newcastle Library Local Studies J. Brand, 1789, History of Newcastle, Vol. I, pp. 35-53 T.M. Richardson, 1880, Memorials of Old Newcastle upon Tyne, Plates I and XXXI J. Clephan, 1883, Old Tyne Bridge and its 'Cellars', Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, IX, pp. 237-40 JC. Bruce, 1885, The Three Bridges over the Tyne at Newcastle, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, X, pp. 1-11 A.M. Oliver, ed. 1924, Early Deeds relating to Newcastle upon Tyne (Chartulary of Tyne Bridge), Surtees Society,Vol. 137, pp. 62-133 E. Jervoise, 1931, The Ancient Bridges of the North of England, pp. 29-32 H.L. Honeyman, 1933, Arches of Old Tyne Bridge,Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 4, V (for 1931-32), pp. 184-6; Grace McCombie, 2009, Newcastle and Gateshead - Pevsner Architectural Guide, p. 15; Barbara Harbottle, 2009, The Medieval Archaeology of Newcastle in Diana Newton and AJ Pollard (eds), 2009, Newcastle and Gateshead before 1700, page 24