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12 Jun 2010 - 30 Jan 2011

This exhibition celebrates the bridges of the Tyne, through photography, art and storytelling, from the first known bridge to cross the Tyne (in around AD122), to Bambuco's temporary bamboo bridge which was built in 2008.

Fascinating images show the construction of the Tyne Bridge, and visitors can also find out about the design and construction of the Swing Bridge, by  Sir WG Armstrong and Company Limited (click here to find out about Discovery Museum's exhibition about Armstrong).

The exhibition contains many fascinating true stories relating to the Tyne and its bridges:

A Baby has a Miraculous Escape

At about 2am on Sunday 17 November 1771, the residents of Newcastle and Gateshead were woken from their sleep by an extremely loud noise.

Following a week of continuous heavy rain the level of the river had risen to four metres above the high tide mark. The flood was sudden and rapid. As the river rose, the arches of the medieval Tyne Bridge

filled with water and then began to crack.

The bridge was covered in buildings, both houses and shops. A Mr Fiddas, who lived on the bridge, opened his window at 4am to see the arch next to his house come crashing down, revealing a rushing torrent

beneath him. He, his wife, children and maid fled for their lives, the pavement beneath their feet crumbling into the swollen waters. The maid, realising she had left a bundle behind, begged her master to be

allowed to return to the house. Mrs Fiddas watched them turn back. As she did so, the arch beneath the two gave way and they vanished into the waters, never to be seen again. A further six residents died in similar circumstances.

Many more lost their homes and businesses as the arches collapsed. Mr Patten the cloth merchant, Mr Hills a shoemaker, Mrs Haswell the milliner, Mr James the cheesemonger and Mr Byerly the hardware man, along with their families and servants, were amongst those who lost everything.

Peter Weatherly, a shoemaker, his family and servants had a lucky escape. As they left their home, the bridge collapsed on both sides of them. They were trapped for eight hours on a small area of bridge

no more than two metres square. The rushing torrent prevented their rescue by boat. A brickmaker, George Woodward, made a daring rescue with a system of ropes and pulleys and saved their lives.

The following day, a ship at sea picked up a wooden cradle. Inside it was a baby, alive and well!

To read more about Building Bridges, click here.