Newburn Bridge

Newburn Bridge is a road bridge spanning the River Tyne with a steel lattice girder structure made up of four separate spans, supported by deep foundations that extend below the water level. The structure connects communities on both sides of the river valley.

The bridge opened in 1893 as a toll crossing, generating income from traffic passing between the two sides of the river valley. The Northumberland County Council acquired it in 1947, removing the toll requirement and making it freely accessible to the public.

The bridge location marks an ancient crossing point of the River Tyne, where the Battle of Newburn Ford occurred in 1640.

The crossing links Newburn, Walbottle, and Throckley on the north side with Ryton, Stella, and Blaydon on the south side of the river valley. A traffic management modification in the 1960s reduced the number of lanes to decrease structural strain on the aging bridge.

The location marks where military forces crossed during the 1640s conflict at Newburn Ford, an important passage point centuries before the current bridge was constructed. This riverside site held strategic value long before becoming a modern crossing.

Official opening: 1893

GPS coordinates: 54.98000,-1.74500

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:06