NEWCASTLE. THE TYNE BRIDGE. A bridge, which certainly existed here in the time of the Romans, is supposed to have been built by the command of the Emperor Ælius Hadrian, who visited Britain in person, when this important frontier station received the name of Pons Ælii. The New Castle, whence its modern appellation, was not erected till after the Norman Conquest. The river Tyne became at an early period the established boundary between the county of Northumberland and the Bishopric of Durham; and so early as the reign of Henry III., the Bishop of Durham joined with the burgesses of Newcastle in the erection of a bridge of stone over the Tyne to Gateshead, which had been previously constructed only of wood. A tremendous flood, in the year 1771, carried away great part of the old bridge, together with several houses that were upon it, by which some lives were lost. Soon after this fatal catastrophe, a temporary bridge was constructed, and the foundation of the present bridge laid, which was opened to the public H about 1781. The See of Durham was subjected to onethird of the expense; and Mylne, the architect of Blackfriars Bridge, London, was employed by the bishop. It consists of nine semicircular arches; and is in length, from north to south, three hundred feet. Since its erection it has been considerably improved: an additional width has been given to the road-way, under the direction of David Stephenson, the architect of the temporary bridge. He has carried a straight parapet throughout, taking in the angular recesses that were left over the piers, and made balustraded openings above every arch, which gives an air of lightness to the structure, and has improved its general appearance. The spire, seen in our view over the Exchange, represented in the first volume, is that of All Saints Church, rebuilt and completed in 1796. It stands on an eminence, and is of the Doric order of architecture, but not remarkable for purity of taste. The interior decorations of this church are of mahogany; the amount of the difference of expense between that material and oak, having been contributed by a public-spirited lady. The height of the spire, from the ground to the top of the vane, is two hundred and two feet. |