I spotted this in Little Ayton as I was walking from Petch Butchers in Great Ayton to Fletcher’s Farm Coffee Shop. The bridge carries the name plate of Stockton Forge Makers, Stockton-on-Tees.
Photographs and details courtesy of Glenn Atterton
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
All work made by Head Wrightson had a company nameplate on.
Served my apprenticeship at Head Wrightson, Teasdale works Thornaby from 1970 onwards. What a great company, it had its own training school for first year apprentices. Could do with the likes of this type of company today.
What trade were you an apprentice?
On 14 June 1890 the Langbaurgh West Highway Board approved the erection of a bridge at Little Ayton. They accepted the tenders of the Stockton Forge Iron Company, for the iron work at £240, and of Mr T Clarkson, Stokesley, for the mason work at £146 10s.
There are a number of other Victorian bridges built by the Stockton Forge still in existence. These include-
Sackville Street, Manchester.
Irwell Street bridge, Salford.
Killorglin Railway Viaduct. County kerry, Ireland.
Until recently there was also a bridge on the Yangon – Mandalay Railway in Myanmar. This railway line was upgraded around 2008 so I`m not sure if it is still there.
The Stockton forge must have had a good reputation for a bridge to be erected in what was formerly Burma.
It’s dilapidated but still there as of 2019
Pictures to the right side…
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Stockton_Forge_Co
I used to work in the building which used to be Head Wrightsons Forge off Norton Road after it was took over by Nesstock Steel stockholders in the 70s.
I’ve walked over that bridge during my hikes on the Moors.
Head Wrightsons Stockton Forge, Head Wrightsons built a lot of bridges in the early years.
The Stockton Forge Company was taken over by Head Wrightson in 1897. Prior to this the Stockton Forge Company on Norton Road had built bridges in different parts of Britain, Ireland & India.