Bridges On The Tyne

SOUTH TYNE - HEXHAM TO HALTWHISTLE

"Tender as the tides of Tyne
In the salmon-time of spring when the river
Was a flowing rock with grains of silver
Dark Hadrian Came"

(J C Grant)

Beyond Hexham the river divides, and the South Tyne begins a journey which will eventully take it into Cumbria and up to its source high in the Pennines. This stretch of river is very rural, meandering past farmland and never very far from the Roman Wall, a few miles to the north.

Two miles west of Hexham, the river reaches the hamlet of Warden in the angle between the now separated Tynes. A railway bridge carries the Newcastle to Carlisle line across and a little further upstream a road bridge crosses from West Boat to Bridge End and Warden. In five more miles comes Haydon Bridge with its ancient and modern bridges. Soon after passing Haydon Bridge the Tyne is joined by a major tributary, the picturesque River Allen. At Bardon Mill comes the first of many footbridges on the South Tyne, linking the village with some small settlements south of the river.

Finally, Haltwhistle is reached and the town boasts several bridges, five in all, including a former viaduct on the Alston branch railway, two modern road bridges on the A69 by-passing the town and two former road bridges which are now footbridges.

 Opening Dates of Present Bridges


Warden Railway Bridge - date not known
West Boat Bridge - 1903
Haydon Bridge - 1970
Old Haydon Bridge - 1776
Haydon Bridge - South Tyne Viaduct - 2009
Tedcastle Railway Bridge - date not known
Ridley Bridge - 1792
Ridley Railway Bridge - date not known
Bardon Mill Footbridge - 1883
Haltwhistle A69 Bridge (east) - 1997
Haltwhistle Railway Viaduct - 1852
Haltwhistle Tyne Bridge - 1875
Bellister Bridge - 1968
Haltwhistle A69 Bridge (west) - 1997

 Haltwhistle Railway Viaduct















© Bridges On The Tyne 2006