Swing Bridge, Lock And Walls Of North End Of Dock

The swing bridge, lock, and walls at the north end of Hudson Dock in Sunderland were built around 1875 for the River Wear Commissioners. This structure, also known as Gladstone Bridge, features ashlar walls and abutments, along with a steel lock gate that was replaced in 1955. The bridge itself is a riveted steel girder design, referred to as Hog-back bridge. At the eastern end, it is set within a curved stone wall, while the western end rests against an extension of that wall when the bridge is open to the dock. When closed, the bridge forms a roadway across the north end, with its west end supported by a stone abutment. The bridge is operated by hydraulic machinery created by Sir W. Armstrong & Co. and is powered by engines and an accumulator located in the adjacent dock office, which now serves various office purposes. This structure is an early example of both a swing bridge and the hydraulic technology developed by Sir William Armstrong, as depicted in the official plan of the docks from 1875.