Swing Bridge At East Side With Ashlar Walls

The swing bridge at the east side of Hudson Dock, built in 1880, features ashlar walls and is part of the entrance from the former sea lock to the former south outlet. A plaque on the bridge identifies Henry H Wake as the engineer, along with the River Wear Commission and Andrew Handyside & Co. Ltd. as the contractors from Derby and London. The bridge is constructed with riveted steel girders and has an asymmetrical hog-back arch that pivots on the north lock wall, with the shorter arm extending towards the land and the longer arm swinging to bridge the lock. A central strut connects the arch to the deck and includes a riveted reinforcing plate at the foot, with diagonal braces extending from the top to the feet of adjacent struts; these features are repeated along the entire length of the bridge. Originally, the bridge was operated by hydraulic machinery made by W.L. Armstrong & Co. of Newcastle upon Tyne. The inner face of the west side lattice metal balustrades displays a founder's plate, and the bridge is equipped with elliptical-headed tubular handrails. It pivots on one ashlar wall to close against the opposite wall.