The Great Flood of 1771 affected several rivers, including the Tyne, Tees, Wear and Eden and settlements across Northern England from 16 and 17 November 1771. [1] Its cause was a sudden thaw of the ice in upper Teesdale, a cloud burst over the Pennines and a continuous period of rain. [2]
At Newcastle upon Tyne the middle arch and two of the arches near the Gateshead side of the Tyne Bridge collapsed in the early hours of November 17. [3] [4] Like many bridges of the time there had been houses and shops on the bridge. [3] [1] Upstream, most of the village of Styford on the north bank was destroyed. [1] In total, 25 people died and thirteen or fourteen bridges, including Hexham Bridge, were destroyed on the North, South and main Tyne rivers. [5]
On the River Wear in the city of Durham three arches of Elvet Bridge were destroyed, [1] and Prebends Bridge of 1574 was swept away. [6] [7] Further downstream the city's Corn Mill was badly damaged and needed to be rebuilt. [8]
On the River Tees mills and houses were lost, and the river was reportedly 0.5 miles (0.8 km) wide at Low Coniscliffe. [1] Yarm was one of the areas worst affected, as the river burst its banks in several places. Some stretches of the High Street were submerged in 20 feet (6.1 m) of water. [2] According to reports, the whole of Yarm lay underwater, every building was affected, six houses were destroyed and many more left uninhabitable. [9] The Shambles was washed away and the town's main church was also damaged. Nine of the townspeople also died. [2]
To the west, the River Eden also rose and affected Carlisle and Botcherby Mill, flooding the church, [10] as did Solway Moss, flooding local farms and settlements. [11]
Northumberland is a ceremonial county in North East England, on the border with Scotland. It is bordered by the North Sea to the east, Tyne and Wear and County Durham to the south, Cumbria to the west, and the Scottish Borders council area to the north. The town of Blyth is the largest settlement. Northumberland is the northernmost county in England.
The River Tees, in England, rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines and flows eastwards for 85 miles (137 km) to reach the North Sea in the North East of England. The modern-day history of the river has been tied with the industries on Teesside in its lower reaches, where it has provided the means of import and export of goods to and from the North East England. The need for water further downstream also meant that reservoirs were built in the extreme upper reaches, such as Cow Green.
Yarm-on-Tees, or simply Yarm, is a market town in North Yorkshire, England. It lies on a meander of the River Tees, extending south-east to the River Leven and south to the village of Kirklevington. A civil parish in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, Yarm is near the towns of Stockton-on-Tees, 5 miles (8.0 km) to its northeast, and Darlington, 11 miles (18 km) to its west.
The Tyne Bridge is a through arch bridge over the River Tyne in North East England, linking Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead. The bridge was designed by the engineering firm Mott, Hay and Anderson, who later designed the Forth Road Bridge, and was built by Dorman Long and Co. of Middlesbrough. The bridge was officially opened on 10 October 1928 by King George V and has since become a defining symbol of Tyneside. It is ranked as the tenth tallest structure in Newcastle.
The A69 is a major northern trunk road in England, running east–west across the Pennines, through the counties of Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Cumbria. Originally, the road started in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne then later near Birtley, but since the creation of the A1 Western Bypass around Newcastle upon Tyne, it now starts at Denton Burn, a suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne.
The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province.
The history of Newcastle upon Tyne dates back almost 2,000 years, during which it has been controlled by the Romans, the Angles and the Norsemen amongst others. Newcastle upon Tyne was originally known by its Roman name Pons Aelius. The name "Newcastle" has been used since the Norman Conquest of England. Due to its prime location on the River Tyne, the town developed greatly during the Middle Ages and it was to play a major role in the Industrial Revolution, being granted city status in 1882. Today, the city is a major retail, commercial and cultural centre.
Hadrian's Wall Path is a long-distance footpath in the north of England, which became the 15th National Trail in 2003. It runs for 84 miles (135 km), from Wallsend on the east coast of England to Bowness-on-Solway on the west coast. For most of its length it is close to the remains of Hadrian's Wall, the defensive wall built by the Romans on the northern border of their empire. This is now recognised as part of the "Frontiers of the Roman Empire" World Heritage Site.
Wylam Railway Bridge is a footbridge and former railway bridge crossing the River Tyne at Hagg Bank, approximately 1⁄2 mile (0.8 km) west of Wylam in Northumberland, England.
Prebends Bridge, along with Framwellgate and Elvet bridges, is one of three stone-arch bridges in the centre of Durham, England, that cross the River Wear.
Corbridge Bridge is a 17th-century stone bridge across the River Tyne at Corbridge, Northumberland, England.
Hexham Bridge is a road bridge in Northumberland, England linking Hexham with the North Tyne valley. It lies north of the town of Hexham and is the main access to the A69 bypass.
Hexham Old Bridge was an 18th-century stone bridge across the River Tyne at Hexham, Northumberland, England. It was located about 1 mile (2 km) upstream of the present Hexham Bridge.
The Victoria Jubilee Bridge, also known as Victoria Bridge, is a road bridge carrying Bridge Road (A1130) east west across the River Tees between Stockton and Thornaby in Northern England. Commonly referred to as the Victoria Bridge, it is located just south east of Stockton town centre and in the town's namesake borough.
Wynch Bridge or Winch Bridge is a suspension bridge over the River Tees. The original Wynch Bridge was said to be the first suspension bridge in Britain, being built in 1741.
The Newcastle & Carlisle Railway (N&CR) was an English railway company formed in 1825 that built a line from Newcastle upon Tyne on Britain's east coast, to Carlisle, on the west coast. The railway began operating mineral trains in 1834 between Blaydon and Hexham, and passengers were carried for the first time the following year. The rest of the line opened in stages, completing a through route between Carlisle and Gateshead, south of the River Tyne in 1837. The directors repeatedly changed their intentions for the route at the eastern end of the line, but finally a line was opened from Scotswood to a Newcastle terminal in 1839. That line was extended twice, reaching the new Newcastle Central Station in 1851.
Yarm Viaduct is a railway viaduct carrying the railways above the town of Yarm in North Yorkshire, England. It crosses the River Tees which forms the boundary between North Yorkshire and County Durham. The railway runs between Northallerton and Eaglescliffe, and was opened in 1852 as part of the extension of the Leeds Northern Railway to Stockton-on-Tees. The line and viaduct are currently owned and maintained by Network Rail and carries passenger traffic for TransPennine Express and Grand Central train operating companies. It also sees a variety of freight traffic.
Yarm Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street in Yarm, North Yorkshire, England. The structure, which is the meeting place of Yarm Town Council, is a Grade II listed building.
Yarm Bridge is a Grade II* listed masonry road bridge over the River Tees, connecting the towns of Yarm and Egglescliffe.