Background

The original 'Swing Bridge' as it is called locally, was built in 1920 after the community helped raise the money to connect the parishes of Grinton and Reeth. It stood for 80 years, surviving several major floods.

On the night of Tuesday 19 September 2000, the original suspension bridge on the river Swale at Reeth was smashed to bits by an uprooted tree during one of these severe floods.

Links to the Past

Following the launch of the public appeal in February 2000, the local community has raised £5000 towards the cost of re-building. The first structure was also built through public subscription. The original date stone has been incorporated into the new bridge.

The bridge was originally built for the benefit of people living at Harkerside, especially for the children to attend the school at Reeth. The first three children to cross the bridge were: Jim Calvert, Bleak House; Harry Calvert, Plain Tree House; and Bessie White, Stubbin Farm, all of Harkerside. Today children from Reeth Primary School have been the first to cross the new bridge, following the official opening by the Rt. hon. William Hague MP

Rebuilding the Bridge

The contractor, PBS construction of Middlesbrough began on site on 29 July 2002. Initially progress was hampered by the bad weather, and as a result the contractors installed a temporary access track to get to the site.

Despite being close to Reeth, from the outset access was a key consideration because of the size of some of the plant needed to build the bridge, eg this carne which was used to lift the stanchions in place.

Unfortunately none of the existing anchors, cables or stanchions from the previous bridge could be salvaged. Though the existing abutments were re-built but higher, to help lift the bridge further above flood water.

To prevent the new bridge being washed away, the abutments and the cables anchor blocks are tied into the ground using 6 metre steel piles. Once drilled into place cement grout has been pumped around them - securing the piles to the ground deep below the river and creating a firm foundation for the bridge. This was a critical time in the building progress as any fluctuation in river levels could have caused a serious set back

Wooden formwork was used to shape the concrete caps to the abutments. These enclose the tops of the piles that have been drilled into the river bed. The steel towers that support the new bridge will be anchored securely into this concrete. 5 Sept 2002

The North Anchor. The concrete has been cast and the formwork removed. The polythene sheeting is to prevent the concrete drying out to ensure it sets properly so that it is durable. 13 Sept 2002

Harkerside Pier. The main cables were threaded through the top of the stanchions and strung across the river at the end of September. Over the next few weeks the cables were wired together. 2 October 2002

The decking was laid over the wires.Next the bridge cables were tightened to introduce the correct tension and camber. Until this work was complete, the bridge was not safe to use by the general public, and the footpath has remained closed. 17 Oct 2002

Some Questions Answered

What were the Rebuilding Costs?

The cost of rebuilding the bridge was over £110,000. Funding was secured for the project from the National Park Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, the Rural Development Programme, Richmondshire District Council, Central Government, the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust and the local community of Grinton and Reeth, after the launch of the 'Reeth Swing Bridge Public Appeal' by The Rt. Hon. William Hague, M.P. in February 2002.

Who will be responsible for maintaining the bridge in the future?

A public path order has moved the line of the public right of way on to the bridge so the bridge is now the responsibility of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, as delegated highways authority on behalf of NYCC.

What is still to be done?

Other work will be taking place at the site over the next year. Further work will be undertaken near the revetment wall which has been built around the bridge to prevent the winter floods scouring around the abutments, and to protect the public footpath giving access to the bridge from further riverbank erosion.

Next year some of the mature alders just upstream of the bridge will be coppiced, to protect the river bank, and the surface of the path will be re-instated where it has washed away.

Work to blend the access track into the landscape will take place next spring when the grass can grow.

Acknowledgements

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority would like to thank the following individuals and organisations for their help in building the bridge: North Yorkshire County Council (help and advice); PBS Construction; Mouchel (supervising the work), Gowers bell (design) and most importantly the landowners and farmers for allowing access over their land and putting up with the to-ing and froing of the construction traffic over the months. Without their help and support the bridge would never have been re-built.