All cities have bridges. The earliest ones were built to cross rivers. Later came the railways. Most bridges demanded a considerable amount of ingenuity and skill in their setting out and construction, but familiarity invariably renders them practically invisible to most residents, taken for granted until they cause a nuisance, or until they are brought out of obscurity by cleaning or by new paintwork.

In general, many bridges over rivers in cities cannot be appreciated because of the lack of riverside viewpoints, but this is not the case in Newcastle and Gateshead.

Also see categories: Bridges and Viaducts, and Movable Bridges