Postcard showing view of the Victoria Bridge, Stockton 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Postcard showing view of the Victoria Bridge, Stockton
As a young girl in the early fifties living in Tarring street we would walk to Thornaby swimming baths. After having our time enjoying the swimming and afterwards a hot OXO and cracker in the little cafe next to the baths we would set off for home. Can anyone enlighten me on a tunnel we would go through from the Thornaby side of Victoria Bridge, we would be so scared pushing each other as it was so scary dark and damp. Would we have come out of the tunnel at the Stockton side of the bridge? or where? was the tunnel under the river or railway and is it still there? Can anyone help jog my memory?
Many thanks, Bob. For the interesting information about the history of the arched tunnel. I will take a closer look at the bricked-up tunnel on the Stockton side of the Tees. When I did cycle along the banks of the River Tees, it”s hard to really imagine that both sides of the Tees was a thriving working Port. I”m lucky to be old enough to have been around to have seen the old riverside buildings before all being swept away to the ground.
Re The Arch under Victoria bridge – When Yarm was isolated from the sea by the stone built Stockton Bridge 1768, part of the contract was access for barge traffic from Yarm, to sea going traffic (Lead. Butter, Skins. Wool) Horse drawn barges were disconnected and with the horse led through the ‘Barge Arch’, while a rope or chain pulled the barge through. The building of Victoria Bridge 1887 carried the same proviso, it also allowed farm animals access to pasture on both side. There is a tunnel on both banks, the Stockton one bricked off
Whilst cycling along the River Tees today, on the Thornaby side and cycling towards the Victoria Bridge. The cycle path came to a end at a tunnel which goes under the Victoria Bridge. What was the purpose of the tunnel? A facility for the workers or a public thru-way? The tunnel is situtated to the right-hand side of the photo, where the old Cleveo Flour Mill stood.