Winch Bridge
Winch Bridge (also Wynch Bridge ) is a footbridge over the upper reaches of the Tees in the North Pennines in northern England . It is located just below the Low Force waterfall on the Pennine Way and is now used by tourists.
First bridge
Coordinates: 54 ° 38 ′ 46 ″ N , 2 ° 9 ′ 2 ″ W.
| Winch Bridge | ||
|---|---|---|
| use | footbridge | |
| Crossing of | Teas | |
| construction | Iron chain bridge | |
| overall length | 21 m | |
| width | 61 cm | |
| completion | 1741 | |
| closure | 1830 | |
| location | ||
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The first, about 21 m long and 61 cm wide bridge was approximately 1,741 primarily for use by the workers of a nearby lead - mine built.
It was the first chain bridge in the western world after the Tibetan and Chinese chain bridges had not found imitators in the west for a long time. It consisted of hand-forged iron chains, which were stretched between the almost vertical rock walls of the Tees Gorge and covered with boards. Apparently it originally only had a railing. However, a depiction by I. Bulman from 1774 shows it with two handrails and guy chains leading diagonally down to the banks, which were supposed to reduce the vibrations of the bridge, which nevertheless required some courage from the users when crossing. In 1802 a chain broke and the bridge collapsed, causing a man to drown. It was then rebuilt, but replaced by the current bridge in 1830.
Second bridge
| Winch Bridge | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| use | footbridge |
| construction | Suspension bridge |
| overall length | 21 m |
| width | approx. 70 cm |
| completion | 1830 |
| Status | in use |
The Winch Bridge was replaced in 1830 by a suspension bridge, in which a wooden bridge deck hangs from two wrought-iron support chains, each of which is supported by two small cast-iron pylons on the banks. The railings on both sides are connected to the bridge deck by a wire mesh network. The bridge was overhauled and reinforced in 1992. It is only approved for use by one person at a time and only swings slightly under their steps.
The Winch bridge stands as a Grade II building under monument protection .
Web links
- I. Bulmann: Winch Bridge , watercolor with pen and pencil drawing, 1774 from British Library, online gallery
- Sketch of the Winch Bridge plan on the Politecnico di Milano website
- Robert Stevenson: Description of bridges of suspension . Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, vol. V, n. 10. Edinburgh 1821. pp. 237-256
- Winch Bridge (1830) on Bridges on the Tees