Opening of Newport Bridge, Middlesbrough 1934

Not Hackworth related but another interesting souvenir booklet in Joan's collection. Joan would have been about 14 when Newport bridge was opened in 1934 and no doubt the family took her to see the opening, which would have only been a little way down the 'Wilderness' along the Stockton to Middlesbrough railway corridor from where they lived in Thornaby on Tees. Timothy hackworth had built the original coal staithes at Port Darlington (Middlesbrough) over  a hundred years before in 1830. Coal was the prime mover but from 1840 iron and steel were the prime movers and as can been seen, still in 1934.