page_title: Wearmouth Bridge
section_title: The first bridge, 1796–1929
hierarchical_section_title: Wearmouth Bridge / History / The first bridge, 1796–1929
caption_attribution_description: English: Engraving dated 1796 from King George III Topographical Collection online exhibition of the British Library.
context_page_description: Wearmouth Bridge is a through arch bridge across the River Wear in Sunderland. It is the final bridge over the river before its mouth with the North Sea.
  The current bridge is the third Wearmouth Bridge in its position. The first opened in 1796 and then was reconstructed in the 19th century.
context_section_description: The first Wearmouth Bridge opened in 1796, with the foundation stone having been laid in September 1793. It was sponsored and patented by Rowland Burdon, the MP, designed by Thomas Paine, and built under the direction of Thomas Wilson, who designed its architectural features. According to the plaque on the current bridge, its construction "proved to be a catalyst for the growth of Sunderland," since access between Monkwearmouth and Bishopwearmouth had previously only been by ferry, with the nearest bridge at Chester-le-Street. There was originally a toll for traffic and pedestrians, although tolls for pedestrians were abolished in 1846.
  It was the second iron bridge built after the famous span at Ironbridge, but was over twice as long with a nominal span of 240 ft (73 m), and only three-quarters the weight. Indeed, at the time of building, it was the biggest single-span bridge in the world (72 m), matching the collapsed Trezzo Bridge. It was considered one of the wonders of the industrial age. It opened to traffic on 9 August 1796, having cost a total of about £28,000.
caption: Wearmouth Bridge
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