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THE BRIDGES of
THE TYNE
For six centuries of the Anglo Saxon period we have no evidence that there was a bridge at Newcastle, it is more than possible that the Picts and Scots plunged Hadrians camp and bridge
"Puns Aelii" in one ruin. If bridge there were, it would see fierce crews of Anglian and
Danish invaders sail up the river, first in piratical raids for plunder then for the purpose of conquering and settling in the
country.
When quiet was again established in Anglian Northumbria the bridge if bridge there were, would see
the passage of the renowned and saintly missionaries St. Aiden and
St. Cuthbert on their holy work of conversion amongst the heathen Angles.
Later the venerable Bede would pass over it in visits from his monastery
at Jarrow to his brethren at Monkchester as Newcastle was then called.
Norman times brought William the Conqueror at the head of
a strong army raging with anger at, the opposition of Northumbria to his rule and engaged in " The harrying
of the North."
There is reason to believe that the bridge was re-built in about the
year 1080 when the " New castle of William the Conqueror's
son Robert was erected.
The building of the Norman Castle could not fail to give more importance to the bridge at its base,
and border raids and Scottish wars kept the hardy inhabitants of
Newcastle continually on the alert . A trustworthy historian states : there were forty four routes by which
raiders could come, and for three hundred years all of them had to
be watched both day and night. Beacons were always ready to be lighted to give the alarm" War and rapine were never far away.
The Wooden structure of the Norman bridge was destroyed by fire in 1248 and the mediaeval bridge which stood until 1771 vas erected in its stead on the same site;
the Newcastle Corporation paying for two-thirds of its length and the Bishop of Durham for the
remaining portion at the southern end.
The eight stone arches of this second bridge presented an imposing and picturesque appearance as shops and houses were
built upon them as well as a chapel to St. Thomas a Becket and a prison tower.
In 1503, the bridge was the scene of a famous procession and a welcome which were to herald the end of the stormy period of warfare between
England and Scotland. Margaret the daughter of Henry Vll passed on her way north to marry James IV. of Scotland, and so to lead a hundred years later
to the union of the crowns when James VI. of Scotland became came
James l. of England. He also crossed the bridge on his way to the English
Throne.
Disaster from flood overtook the bridge on two separate
occasions
In 1339, when the bridge had been in use for less than ninety years a flood occurred which damaged the bridge and led to the death by
drowning of more than a hundred persons in and near Pandon Dene and the destruction of a hundred and forty houses.
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