Summary
IT'S a special year for Middlesbrough's, if not Teesside's, most famous landmark. The Transporter Bridge celebrates its centenary in 2011 and the Evening Gazette and Remember When will be marking the passing of this historical milestone in the weeks and months ahead. The bridge was formally opened on Tuesday, October 17, 1911, by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, in a splendid royal ceremony. The bridge has stood as a mighty symbol of Teesside's industrial ingenuity ever since. The bridge has touched many lives and we want to hear about your experiences, thoughts, impressions and memories - but we would especially like to see your photographs of this iconic structure. Remarkably, despite the high number of bridges built since the war, the Transporter remains the lowest crossing on the Tees. And plans for a tunnel further down stream to carry the public came to nothing. Until 1911 the lowest crossing was the Victoria Bridge in Stockton and for inhabitants of Middlesbrough who worked in Port Clarence, it was a journey by ferry every day. It was obvious for some years before 1911 that a crossing would be needed, but the huge number of vessels steaming and sailing up and down the Tees between the estuary and Stockton precluded a conventional bridge. Several suggestions were made but eventually the Transporter design was accepted as the best solution to allow ships to pass, while allowing the public to cross the river. The ferry fare each day took a sizeable chunk out of the wages of those crossing the Tees for work, so the new bridge was a very welcome development for Middlesbrough folk. There was still a fare to pay if the cradle was taken, but many workers opted for the steep 160 foot climb to the walkway at the top to avoid the toll, often carrying their pushbikes with them and then descending the steep steps on the other side.
Last week plans were announced to develop the bridge - a Grade II listed building and one of only a handful of working examples in the world - as a key tourist destination. In 2010 a grant of more than pounds 110,000 was made by the Heritage Lottery Fund to kick-start the Transporter Bridge Major Improvement Programme.See the full content of this document
Extract
Still Going Strong
The Transporter is a local triu...
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