Swing Bridge

Newcastle is a city known for its beautiful bridges over the river Tyne. Gateshead, connecting the city to the other side of the river, is a swing bridge. It is one of the oldest, immediately recognized for its beautiful red and white coloring. It is situated between the Tyne Bridge and the High Level Bridge. With hydraulic power it can move to let in large ships bringing goods to the city or taking steel and other industrial productions out of the city. The mechanism used is the same as was used when it was built in 1876. The bridge was commissioned and paid for by William Armstrong, a wealthy industrialist of the city, which created the rule Armstrong Whitworth.