The fourth episode of the third series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this weeks programme John travels from the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland to the Eskdale Valley in North Yorkshire to look at the history and development of bridge building across the region. In the second part of the programme John travels downstream along the River Tyne to Newcastle showcase its many amazing and...

The fourth episode of the third series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this weeks programme John travels from the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland to the Eskdale Valley in North Yorkshire to look at the history and development of bridge building across the region. In the second part of the programme John travels downstream along the River Tyne to Newcastle showcase its many amazing and pioneering Victorian bridges. An animation of a book with its pages turning revealing different buildings and architectural styles ending on presenter John Grundy holding the programmes title card. Title: Grundy’s Wonders Along the banks of the River Coquet high in the Cheviot Hills of Northumberland presenter John Grundy attempt to cross the water by foot complaining that it must have been hell for travellers in the past. As he attempts to cross various parts of the river, including once with a trolley bag, he thanks God for the invention of bridges. Coming to and crossing a footbridge he explains that from the most primitive to the absolute modernist marvels all bridges have had the same basic problem of trying to stay up. He provides details of the three different sets of forces constantly trying to knock down bridges, deadload, live-load and environmental load. To get across any gap you need to find the best materials and best shape of bridge to cope with these three stresses and that over the centuries man has found varied and inventive solutions to these problems. Following a montage of various bridges that will feature in this programme a return to the River Coquet as it flows south away from the Cheviot Hills with John explains that as it does so it becomes a ‘rich source of entertaining bridgery’. As cars and pedestrians cross the 700-year-old Rothbury Bridge in the town of Rothbury John walks under one of its arches explaining why bridge are both extraordinary and beautiful things that fill him with amazement. As he goes onto explain that the Coquet have three surviving Medieval bridges, he comes to stand beside one of Rothbury Bridges stone piers or cutwaters talking about how they help strengthen the arches above him. Standing along the Coquet John talks about how each bridge has its own unique set of problems depending in its location. As a Dipper bird flits across the calm waters of river, John explains that it is hard to see on days like this what weather and water is capable of doing and what bridges have to put up with. A montage of various bridges during times of floor with many of the arches underwater. At Weldon Bridge which crosses the Coquet near Morpeth John explains how the installation of flood or relieving arches helps prevent it from being washed away like the two previous bridges. Following a montage of the rural Northumberland scenery John leans against a tree near to Warkworth Bridge which is the last bridge over the River Coquet and one that leads into one of the nicest little market towns in England. With pedestrians crossing Warkworth Bridge John explains why in the Middle-Ages bridges were important for the commercial necessities of the town. Walking across the bridge himself John also talks about their weaknesses potentially allowing ‘bad people’ in the town and as such needed defences. Walking underneath it John points out its defensible tower making this bridge one of the last defensible town bridges in England. In the Eskdale Valley of North Yorkshire John sits at a bench outside The Board Inn at Lealholm supping a half-pint of beer. Nearby is Lealholm Bridge crossing the River Esk with a woman on horseback crossing it. As she does so John explains that since the 18th century road bridges have been the responsibility of the county in which they are to be found and provides details on John Carr the North Yorkshire resident bridge engineer, described by John as one of the finest Georgian architects, who designed both this and other bridges across the county creating one of the finest collections of stone arched road bridges in the country. Returning to John at The Board Inn he talks about how before the 18th century bridges were hit-and-miss as it needing a rich benefactor to pay for its construction. However, the act of doing so almost became a religious act of charity. At Beggar’s Bridge at Glaisdale John explains why he considers it his favourite of the ancient bridges in the Northeast and provides details on its builder Thomas Ferris who built the bridge in 1619. As he walks across its John provides details on why he likes it compared to the modern road bridge built beside it and of the railway bridge built nearby. Coming to stand under Carr End railway bridge John talks about its complex construction using new materials and technology, a Victorian experiment built in the world of the Industrial Revolution and a whole new world of bridges. Title: Grundy’s Wonders End of Part One Part Two At Grosmont station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway a steam locomotion pulls out of the station while passengers and volunteers on the railway move along the platform. As John crosses the footbridge from the car part to the railway platform, he explains that the live load created on a bridge by a railway engine exceeded anything that had gone before it. Explaining that the North Yorkshire Moors Railway was planned out by George Stephenson John points out the nearby foot tunnel which is believed to be the oldest railway tunnel in world. Standing on a nearby suspension bridge built in the 1840s John provide details on the unusual early technology used in its construction being made of solid pieces of iron linked together to make a chain. Next to it the railway bridge of 1847 which while not going into detail is described by John as wonderful. A car drives across the single-track road over Ovingham Bridge followed by John in his vehicle. As he crosses, he explains that if you follow the River Tyne upstream from Ovingham the bridges are all traditional stone arched bridges, while if you go downstream towards the sea, they are all made from iron, steel or concrete. As he continues to cross, he states that what makes it especially interesting is that it is made entirely of steel. Standing underneath the bridge, he goes onto explain that because steel is stronger than iron for the past century virtually every metal bridge has been built from it. While not the earliest steel-built bridge in the world, John still considers it to be a pioneering bridge one of a series of pioneering bridges built along a pioneering river. Downstream from Ovingham is West Wylam and Hagg Bank Bridge built in 1876 from wrought iron and the first railway bridge in the world with a parabolic arch supporting a suspended roadway. A montage of the bridge featuring an older man crossing the bridge with the help of a stick. Crossing the Ouseburn Valley in Newcastle in the Ouseburn Viaduct built in 1868 and an almost perfect copy in wrought iron of an earlier revolutionary laminated timber bridge by local architect John Green. Nearby a Tyne and Wear Metro train crosses the Byker Viaduct built in 1978 using an epoxy resin to glue together the pre-cast concrete section, the first bridge in the United Kingdom to be built this way. Along the Newcastle Quayside an older couple sit on a bench underneath the High-Level Bridge built in 1845 by Robert Stephenson. As traffic cross on one of its two levels John explains that it was built with stone along with wrought and cast iron and is the greatest symbol of Victorian Tyneside. Next to it the Tyne Bridge, the most famous Tyneside symbol of all, but not as pioneering as some of the other bridges but still wonderful both soaring and powerful. In between the High-Level and Tyne bridges is the Swing Bridge which is pioneering being the biggest hydraulic bridge in the world when it opened in 1876 and designed personally by Lord William Armstrong and built at his factories along the Tyne. Inside the original engines also designed by Lord Armstrong still in action and lovingly maintained working to open the bridge to allow the cruise vessel Island Scene to continue upstream. Further downstream from the Tyne Bridge pedestrians crossing the Gateshead Millennium Bridge built in 2001 and already held in huge affection by everybody who knows it. Filmed at high-speed the bridge both opening and closing again intercut with views if of it in its open position. Standing on the Gateshead Millennium Bridge John asks the viewer to think how much bridges have changed from the ones shown at the beginning of the programme. He goes onto explain that almost all of them have filled him with admiration for the skill and the inventiveness of their designs and that none of them he would want to crush under ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’. However, there is one type of bridge that he will be ‘crushed’ and that is footbridges that cross over busy urban roads. Over views of one such bridge John explains that he would ‘crush them all’ as unlike every other bridge featured, they aren’t made to make the life of the user better. An animation follows of ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’ coming down on the bridge. Now standing on the Newcastle Quayside John gives this weeks ‘Grundy’s Wonder’ not to one bridge but to the view behind him of the Gateshead Millennium, Tyne and High-Level bridges. While acknowledging there are better individual bridges in the world, he defies anyone to find a better ‘bridgey’ panorama as this. An animation of a fanfare of trumpets over the following title. Title: Grundy’s Wonders Over the closing credits a montage of the G Gateshead Millennium and Tyne bridges lit up at night. Credit: Written and Presented by John Grundy Camera and Location Direction Simon Elphinstone, Alistair McKenzie Additional Camera Simon Foggin Sound Paul Graham, Andrew Bennett, Dave Venus Lighting Gordon Porteous, John Mason, Lew Hedley Production Assistants Margaret McKie Production Manager Christine Stewart-Tilling Graphics Dave Richardson Title Music and Dubbing John Cook Editor Mike Pounder Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Series Producer Steve Robins End title: A Tyne Tees Television production. Granada. © Tyne Tees Television MMII