# Skerne Bridge > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Skerne_Bridge > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Skerne_Bridge.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skerne_Bridge > Source revision: 1315985702 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Railway bridge in Darlington, County Durham, UK; in continuous use since 1825}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Use British English|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox bridge | name = Skerne Bridge | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = File:Skerne Railway Bridge South Side May 2021.jpg | image_upright = | alt = Stone arch railway bridge over River Skerne in Darlington | caption = South side, with original arches flanked by later buttresses | coordinates = {{Coord|54|32|4.0|N|1|33|2.2|W|display=inline,title}} | os_grid_reference = NZ 29177 15558 | qid = | refs = | carries = [Tees Valley Line](/source/Tees_Valley_Line) | crosses = [River Skerne](/source/River_Skerne) | locale = [Darlington](/source/Darlington) | starts = | ends = | official_name = | other_name = | named_for = | owner = [Network Rail](/source/Network_Rail) | maint = | heritage = | id = | id_type = | website = | preceded = | followed = | design = Arch | material = Stone | material1 = | material2 = | length = | width = | height = | depth = | traversable = | towpath = | mainspan = {{Convert|39|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Rennison|1996}} | number_spans = 3 | piers_in_water = | load = | clearance_above = | clearance_below = | lanes = | life = | first_length = | first_diameter = | second_length = | second_diameter = | third_length = | third_diameter = | capacity = | num_track = | track_gauge = | structure_gauge = | electrification = | architect = | designer = [Ignatius Bonomi](/source/Ignatius_Bonomi) | contracted_designer = | winner = | engineering = | builder = Francis Peacock, of Yarm | fabricator = | begin = | complete = | cost = | open = {{start date|1825|09|27|df=y}} | inaugurated = | rebuilt = | collapsed = | closed = | replaces = | replaced_by = | traffic = | toll = | extra = | embedded = {{Infobox designation list |embed=yes | designation1 = UK GRADE I | designation1_offname = Skerne Bridge | designation1_number = 1475481{{sfn|Historic England|1475481}} | designation1_date = {{start date|2021|12|07|df=y}} }} }} The '''Skerne Bridge''' is a railway bridge over the [River Skerne](/source/River_Skerne) in [Darlington](/source/Darlington), County Durham. Built in 1825 for the [Stockton and Darlington Railway](/source/Stockton_and_Darlington_Railway), it carried the first train on the opening day, {{start date|1825|09|27|df=y}}. It is still in use, being the oldest railway bridge in continuous use in the world. It is a Grade I [listed building](/source/listed_building). ==History== thumb|left|Bridge in August 1825, as originally built|alt=Watercolour painting of a simple stone arch bridge with two small side arches, crossing a river between grassy banks The Stockton and Darlington Railway had to cross the Skerne River, and it was originally intended that [George Stephenson](/source/George_Stephenson) should erect a stone and iron bridge. However, when the similar [Gaunless Bridge](/source/Gaunless_Bridge) he had designed had to be rebuilt after suffering flood damage, the railway directors told him to consult [Ignatius Bonomi](/source/Ignatius_Bonomi). Bonomi designed a stone arch bridge, with a single arch spanning the river and two smaller [flood arch](/source/flood_arch)es over the paths either side.{{sfn|NorthenEcho|2017}} It was built by Francis Peacock of [Yarm](/source/Yarm).{{sfn|Rennison|1996}} The bridge famously featured on the opening day of the railway, {{startdate|1825|9|27|df=y}}, when [Locomotion No. 1](/source/Locomotion_No._1) crossed it with a train of coal and passengers. Shortly before the opening, in August 1825, the Revd [John Skinner](/source/John_Skinner_(archaeologist)) sketched the bridge as it was originally built.{{sfn|NHLEpics|2021}} The pride taken in the bridge is suggested by its appearance on the railway's share certificates.{{sfn|HEAudit|2019|p=14}} Traffic over the bridge increased far beyond the S&DR's expectations, and by 1828 the embankments leading to the bridge were showing serious damage. In 1829 the railway engaged John Falcus Carter of [Heighington](/source/Heighington%2C_County_Durham) to repair it. He added curved flanking walls, holding back earth ramparts, that shored up Bonomi's failing embankments.{{sfn|SDR1825|2021}} The railway survived and prospered. To celebrate their fiftieth year in 1875, they commissioned [John Dobbin](/source/John_Dobbin) to paint the original opening day. He, assuming that little about the bridge had changed, portrayed it as it appeared in 1875–complete with curved retaining walls–in his reconstruction of the 1825 opening scene.{{sfn|NorthenEcho|2017}} A similar error occurs in Robert Thurston's ''A history of the growth of the steam engine''. At a later date, Carter's flank walls were hidden by additional heavier walls of rustic stone that do not match the original bridge.{{sfn|SDR1825|2021}} At some point before 1897, the bridge was widened on the north side to carry four tracks. The widened trackbed has since been removed, since 1967, leaving only the stone piers, and a single track still using the original arches.{{sfn|Historic England|1002331}}{{sfn|InfoBoard|2021}}{{efn|An 1897 map shows the wider bridge, as does a 1967 photograph.}} ==Renovation and commemoration== On {{start date|1970|06|19|df=y}} the bridge was listed as [scheduled monument](/source/scheduled_monument) number 1002331.{{sfn|Historic England|1002331}} Ahead of the 195th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington railway in 2020, [Network Rail](/source/Network_Rail) (who own the railway infrastructure) cleaned the stonework, removing plant growth and cutting back the surrounding greenery to make the bridge more visible.{{sfn|NetworkRail|2020}} A public information board explains the history of the bridge. The bridge (in its post-1829 form) has also featured on reverse of the [Bank of England £5 note](/source/Bank_of_England_%C2%A35_note)s issued between 1990 and 2002.{{sfn|NorthenEchoPic4|2017}} The [ICE](/source/Institution_of_Civil_Engineers)'s Panel for Historical Engineering Works has listed it as HEW 151.{{sfn|ICE|2015}} The [National Transport Trust](/source/National_Transport_Trust) has marked it with a Red Wheel plaque.{{sfn|NTTSkerneBridge|2021}} Having carried the railway over the River Skerne since 1825, under the Stockton and Darlington, [North Eastern](/source/North_Eastern_Railway_(United_Kingdom)), and [London and North Eastern](/source/London_and_North_Eastern_Railway) railways, and [British Rail](/source/British_Rail), [Railtrack](/source/Railtrack) and (currently) [Network Rail](/source/Network_Rail), the Skerne Bridge is the oldest railway bridge in continuous use in the world.{{sfn|NetworkRail|2020}} On {{start date|2021|12|07|df=y}}, [Historic England](/source/Historic_England) gave it a new designation as a Grade I listed building, in recognition of its architectural and historic interest.{{sfn|Historic England|1475481}}{{sfn|BBC|2021}} The bridge is a short distance from [Hopetown Darlington](/source/Hopetown_Darlington), which occupies the former station building of [North Road railway station](/source/North_Road_railway_station). Until March 2021, this museum (then called 'Head of Steam') housed [Locomotion No. 1](/source/Locomotion_No._1), the locomotive that pulled the inaugural train over Skerne Bridge. The locomotive has been moved to the eponymously named [Locomotion](/source/National_Railway_Museum_Shildon) in preparation for the bicentenary celebrations of the S&DR in 2025.{{sfn|NorthenEcho|2021}} == Gallery == File:Opening of Stocking and Darlington Railway (crop).jpg|Opening of Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825 (excerpt) by [John Dobbin](/source/John_Dobbin) (painted 1875).|alt=Painting of Skerne Bridge with spectators watching the first train cross File:Stockton and Darlington Railway 1858.jpg|Preferential Share of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, issued 24. September 1858|alt=Railway company share certificate including engraving of Skerne Bridge File:The Opening of the S&DR (crop).jpg|The post-1829 Skerne Bridge used in an image of the 1825 opening in Robert Thurston's book.|alt=Painting of Skerne Bridge incorrectly showing later structure at the date of opening File:Skerne Railway Bridge South Side Centre May 2021.jpg|The flat stonework of the original arches contrasts with the rustic stone of the later flanking walls. A public information board is in the foreground.|alt=Skerne Bridge in 2021 showing added buttresses File:Skerne Railway Bridge North Side Centre May 2021.jpg|The piers are left from the widening of the bridge on the north side.|alt=North side of Skerne Bridge showing unused piers from previous widening File:Street name sign for Bonomi Way Darlington UK.jpg|Darlington street name commemorating Bonomi as architect of the Skerne Bridge == Notes == {{notelist}} {{Reflist|colwidth=20em}} == References == {{refbegin}} * {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|BBC|2021}}|title=Historic England highlights windmill, mud walls and sports hall |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-59650866 |website=BBC News |date=15 December 2021}} * {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|NorthenEcho|2017}} |title=The story of Skerne Bridge - a somewhat mysterious fixture of Darlington's railway history which has been revamped after years of neglect |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/history/15547654.story-skerne-bridge---somewhat-mysterious-fixture-darlingtons-railway-history-revamped-years-neglect/ |website=The Northern Echo |date=25 September 2017 |access-date=11 April 2021 |language=en}} * {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|NorthenEchoPic4|2017}}|title=IN CIRCULATION: The Skerne Bridge on the old £5 note |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/history/15547654.story-skerne-bridge---somewhat-mysterious-fixture-darlingtons-railway-history-revamped-years-neglect/#gallery4 |website=The Northern Echo |date=25 September 2017 |access-date=11 April 2021 |language=en}} * {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|NorthenEcho|2021}} |title=WATCH: Locomotion No 1 arrives in Shildon |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19142486.watch-locomotion-no-1-finally-leaves-darlington-160-years/ |website=The Northern Echo |date=7 March 2021 |access-date=7 May 2021 |language=en}} * {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|NetworkRail|2020}}|title=Where's the world's oldest rail bridge in continuous use? |url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/stories/worlds-oldest-rail-bridge-in-continuous-use-celebrates-milestone/ |website=Network Rail |date=29 September 2020 |access-date=11 April 2021 }} * {{NHLE |num= 1002331 |desc= Skerne Railway bridge, 320m south east of Darlington Railway Museum, Darlington|access-date= 11 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611205120/https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1002331 |archive-date=2021-06-11 |mode=cs2}} * {{cite book |last1=Rennison |first1=Robert William |title=Civil engineering heritage. Northern England |publisher=[Thomas Telford Publishing](/source/Institution_of_Civil_Engineers) |url=https://archive.org/details/civilengineering0000renn/mode/2up|date=1996 |location=London |isbn=0-7277-2518-1 |edition=2nd }} * {{NHLE |num= 1475481 |desc= Skerne Bridge|access-date= 15 December 2021|mode=cs2}} * {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|NHLEpics|2021}}|title=Skerne Bridge, Non Civil Parish - 1475481 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1475481?section=comments-and-photos |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} * {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|SDR1825|2021}} |title=John Carter and the Saving of the Skerne Bridge |url=https://www.sdr1825.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/John-Carter-and-the-Saving-of-the-Skerne-Bridge.pdf |website=Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway |access-date=12 August 2021}} * {{Cite sign |ref={{sfnref|InfoBoard|2021}}|title=Skerne Bridge. Route of the 1825 Stockton and Darlington Railway |type=Public information board |publisher=Darlington Borough Council |location=Footpath south west of Skerne Bridge }} * {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|FriendsWalk|2016}}|title=THE ROUTE OF THE S&DR 1825: The Darlington Circular Stockton & Darlington Railway Walk No.5. |url=https://www.sdr1825.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/SDR-Booklet-5-Darlington-Circular-2016-08-03.pdf |website=Friends of the Stockton and Darlington Railway |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514182823/https://www.sdr1825.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/SDR-Booklet-5-Darlington-Circular-2016-08-03.pdf |archive-date=14 May 2021 |access-date=14 May 2021}} * {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|HEAudit|2019}}|title=The 1825 Stockton & Darlington Railway: Historic Environment Audit Appendix 5. Darlington to Goosepool (Stockton Council boundary). |url=https://www.darlington.gov.uk/media/10410/appendix-5-2016-10-27-management-darlington-to-goosepool-2019-revision.pdf |website=Darlington Borough Council |publisher=Archaeo-Environment for Durham County Council, Darlington Borough Council and Stockton Council. |access-date=14 May 2021}} * {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|NTTSkerneBridge|2021}} |title=Heritage Locations |url=https://www.nationaltransporttrust.org.uk/heritage-sites/heritage-detail/skerne-bridge-darlington |website=www.nationaltransporttrust.org.uk |access-date=3 June 2021 }} * {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|ICE|2015}} |title=Panel For Historical Engineering Works : Skerne Bridge |url=https://myice.ice.org.uk/knowledge-and-resources/historical-engineering-works/details?hewID=2609#details |website=Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) |access-date=9 April 2022 |language=en |date=13 February 2015}} {{refend}} == External links == {{Commons category}} {{Railway bridges and viaducts in North East England}} [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrkEkXCkt40 Archaeologist Caroline Hardie explains the evolution of the Skerne Bridge] Category:Stockton and Darlington Railway Category:Rail transport in Darlington Category:Buildings and structures in Darlington Category:Railway bridges in County Durham Category:Scheduled monuments in County Durham Category:Grade I listed railway bridges and viaducts Category:Grade I listed buildings in County Durham Category:National Transport Trust Red Wheel sites --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Skerne Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skerne_Bridge) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skerne_Bridge?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.