We have photographs of the halfpenny bridge being blown up but this is the first one I have seen of it being built in 1869. It was built by Gilks and Wilson, and was 126 feet high and 650 feet long. The tolls were: Pedestrians – half-penny. Bicycles and rider – one penny. Carriages – half-penny per wheel, passengers – one half-penny. (Information courtesy of Howard Wilson). Originally built to facilitate travel to Skelton Castle the bridge was unable to be used by motorised traffic and so in the later 20th century was use by walkers, cyclists, horse riders and horse drawn vehicles until it’s demise in December 1974.
Any more photographs of this bridge out there that you would like to share with us?
Three men were killed during the erection of the bridge
.The bridge was built by the Skelton Estate who intended to build Villas on the East side of the Glen, the scheme failed because of the depression in the late 1800’s.
There were at least 72 suicides from the bridge.
Use to cross every day 1961 to 1964 Manor House School.