The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
12 June 1969: Saltburn Ha'penny Bridge
Time takes its toll on the handsome Ha’Penny Bridge across the Skelton Beck in Saltburn-by-the-Sea.
From the collection of:
Overview
Time catches up with an elegant Victorian bridge with a panoramic view, soaring 150 foot across the deep, wooded glen of the Skelton Beck in Saltburn-by-the-Sea. Originally named after the halfpenny toll that was required for pedestrians to cross it, Tyne Tees reporter Earle Bailey talks to toll keeper Bill Hyde about the new charge to use the Ha’Penny Bridge, and jokingly begs a free ride with the driver of a horse and cart who has been crossing it for 73 years.
The footbridge was developed by John Thomas Wharton of Skelton Castle to connect the new, prosperous town of Saltburn with Bank Top, hoping to profit from the sale of leasehold land he owned there. It was completed in 1869 at a cost of £7,500 and, after a tragic accident, the lives of three workmen. It is clear from this Today at Six news feature that the bridge doesn’t pay its way and never did. In 1969, it continues to operate through the generous subsidy of Mrs Ringrose-Wharton. The bridge survived for more than 100 years until, after decades of neglect by the local authority and despite the protests of local people, the beautiful but derelict structure was demolished with 42lbs of gelignite on 17 December 1974.
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