Ridley Railway Bridge

The first bridge near Ridley Hall for the railway between Newcastle upon Tyne and Carlisle was designed by the railway company's engineer, John Blackmore, and originally built of timber; it was completed in 1838 but as the condition of the wood deteriorated it was replaced by the current iron-girder structure constructed by Sir William Arrol & Co. in 1907.^[1][2][3] It was one of three bridges across the River Tyne and River Allen completed in 1838.^[4]

Such was the influence of the owner of Ridley Hall, Sir Matthew White Ridley, 4th Baronet, that a small station was built nearby for the benefit of the local community travelling on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway.^[5] Cast iron railings from the original bridge, built in 1838, were recovered and retained by the Science Museum in London.^[6] The current bridge is approximately 137 metres (449 ft) long.^[7]