Near my home in Meadowbank, New South Wales, there’s a magnificent old iron bridge that I often ride over on my bike and paddle under in my kayak. Originally a railway bridge, it was prefabricated in England and shipped here in 1886. Each pylon is inscribed with “Stockton Forge Company Makers, Stockton-on-Tees”.
Although the bridge no longer carries the railway it is a much loved pedestrian and cycle path across the Parramatta River and stands strong despite nearly 140 years in salt water.
I often think of the tremendous skill and hard work it took to make something like this, often for meagre wages and in harsh and dangerous conditions, and the sad loss of decline of heavy manufacturing in both Australia and the UK.
I think we should be very proud of this heritage, and you may want to let the people in your community know about it!
Photographs and details courtesy of Ian Elliott, Australia.
I was just reading in today’s paper that we don’t produce the steel necessary to build our nuclear subs and only contracted to provide a third for the latest destroyers. At one time the Tees was the largest producer of tramp steamers in world. It was an area with all the ingredients for iron and steel and led the world.
When I was at Dorman Long in the early 1960s they were producing the steel cables for the first Forth Road Suspension Bridge. This last second road bridge over the Forth was of the cable stayed type with no British steel being involved. THe man in charge of construction was Spanish.
This is a great post Ian, Thank you.
The steel from Teesside was supplied to many countries around the work. I worked in Libya in the oil and gas industry and many of the girders used to build the plant by the Esso had ‘Cleveland Bridge’ imprinted on the steel. Although they were a Darlington company, it was Fantastic workmanship that stood the test of time.
Mark
Well said Ian – Your words convey nicely the fine heritage our forebears left behind. I’m pleased to hear the bridge is still open to pedestrians. Here in the UK HSE would have had it demolished or at the very least barriered off.
My Great Grandad Thomas W Tighe worked in the steel industry and his father before him. His father also worked in the steel industry. I will have to look at my genealogy for the dates they would have worked. Thomas left school at age 12 and worked until he was 70 years old. He lived to the grand old age of 97. My Dad Frank Philip Mee would have known more about him. I know he would have commented if he was still with us.
When I was in the RAF many years ago doing training all the hangers has Dorman Long on it, They also did the Sydney Harbour Bridge and were the first company to make rolled steel in the U.K. another Teeside company. But Stockton Forge was sold to Head Wrightson and became part of the company who owned the Malleable steel works in Portrack Stockton.
Don’t know if you already knew this is what’s on the Sydney harbour bridge The company responsible for constructing the Sydney Harbour Bridge was Dorman Long and Co Pty. Ltd., an English steel company, and their logo is not visible on the bridge itself.
Many thanks Ian for bringing this splendid bridge to our attention. As an old Stocktonian I am very proud of the many wonderful products from Stockton and environs. My dad worked as a Boilersmith, often on works such as this great bridge, and nurtured me to become a Draughtsman, Professional Engineer and Naval Architect.
Fabulous information Ian – I wonder whether this was related to either Head Wrightson, or Parkfield Iron Foundry? Does anyone know?
It later became Head Wrightson Stockton Forge where I served my apprenticeship as a welder. Some of the buildings are still extant although I don’t know which company is in there now.
Stockton has a lot to be proud of. I often wonder what happened to the huge site that was the old Grangefield Grammar School. I presume its housing?
The reincarnated Grangefield is on the same site. It was sad to see it go. My niece is now head of year there. I remember you Susan. Irene Metcalfe as was.
And I remember Irene Metcalfe who was friends with Margaret Davies at GGS
The old school was demolished and replaced with a new school building
Ian, thanks for sending the pic and the background. You might find some descendants of those iron workers around Perth. My older brother moved there with his family. When my husband (a Brooklyn, NY lad) and I visited them there were a lot of people who had moved there from the Stockton area that my brother knew when he was a kid. I don’t know if the WA dialect has been totally corrupted due to the large influx of Teessiders.
Hi Ian, thanks for sending these photos. It’s always great to see how far the products of local Stockton skills are spread around the world. Also great that its been put to such a great use. It was certainly built to last! Regards, Jon.