Standing a few miles downstream from our village, the green bridge above is the newest bridge on the River Derwent, the river that runs through our valley. This bridge is the new replacement for the older Butterfly Bridge that was washed away in floods in September 2008. I love walking down by the river. It is normally such a peaceful and beautiful river, it seems hard to imagine it so swollen and powerful that it tore out trees and battered them against the sturdy metal bridge until the bridge was ripped away from its stone foundations. The same flood caused a significant amount of damage along the valley. It seemed for a while the old bridge would not be replaced, so I was very pleased when the new bridge was built and opened in 2011.
Gateshead’s Millennium Bridge spans the River Tyne between the redeveloped quaysides of Gateshead and Newcastle. Carrying only pedestrians and cyclists, this bridge has quickly become a favourite with many people and an icon of modern Tyneside. The Millennium Bridge is unique in the way it tilts open to allow larger ships to pass through.
Staying on the River Tyne, but around 20 miles upstream from Gateshead’s Millennium Bridge, stands the historic market town of Hexham. Hexham Bridge is a busy road bridge carrying traffic in and out of the town from the north bank. This 9-arched stone bridge was built in 1793.
I couldn’t resist a seasonally snowy bridge photo to complete this post! I have posted other images previously of this Victorian railway bridge in our woods, but I think it looks so lovely like this, decorated with soft snow 🙂
Do take a look at the bridges others have chosen for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week.
J Peggy Taylor
Oak Trees Studio 