Exhibition : Newport Transporter Bridge

Have you visited the Exhibition relating to Newport Transporter Bridge in Newport Museum and Art Gallery?

 


 The ongoing Exhibition in Newport Museum Museum on the Mezzanine Floor

Born out of Newport’s huge success and growth in the late 1800s, the Transporter Bridge has dominated the skyline of the city for 110 years. Built to accommodate the tallest sailing ships, yet also transport motor cars, the Transporter Bridge is one of the last structures of the days of sail but one of the first of the motor age.

Today, the Transporter Bridge is a working monument to Newport’s rich maritime and industrial heritage. Described by Cadw as ‘a structure of exceptional interest’, the bridge is the best example of a transporter bridge in Britain and one of only eight historic transporter bridges left in the world.

The exhibition features a range of items and images from the construction and operation of the Transporter Bridge and artworks inspired by it. Highlights include: photographs documenting the Bridge’s construction; an industrial basket used to carry workers; a silver trowel used to the lay the foundation stone; film footage of the opening ceremony and digital projections of the original plans.

To keep up to date with what is on, please visit the Museum & Art Gallery web site.


1. The Ceremonial Trowel: 

This ceremonial trowel was presented to Mayor of Newport Henry John Davis to mark the laying of the foundation stone of the Transporter Bridge on 8 November 1902.



2, The Industrial Basket

Workmen scaled the cables of the Transporter Bridge in large wicker baskets pulled by winches. From the baskets the workmen could install, paint and maintain the cables.




3, The West bank cable anchorage.
The Cable Anchorage nearing completion on 29 July 1903.



4. Tokens
8,000 people paid the half penny toll to cross the bridge on the opening day. Despite the toll the bridge always ran at a loss. By 1919 it was costing  the Borough £6,000 a year. In 1946 the toll was abolished. 



 

5. The Pilot House Clock
The clock is double sided, so that both the driver and passengers could see the time. It was designed for the Transporter Bridge by local watchmakers  - S. G. Sunnucks. In 1995 the clock was stolen. It re-appeared in Devon 10 years later and was returned to Newport in 2008.




6, The boom 
Here the boom is being lifted into place on 17 May 1905



7. The Completed Transporter Bridge







 

The exhibition features a range of items and images from the construction and operation of the Transporter Bridge and artworks inspired by it. Highlights include: photographs documenting the Bridge’s construction; an industrial basket used to carry workers; a silver trowel used to the lay the foundation stone; film footage of the opening ceremony and digital projections of the original plans.


To keep up to date with what is on, please visit the Museum & Art Gallery web site.

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