Historic England: The refurbishment of Union Chain Bridge: Part 1 webinar

On – Line

Tuesday 9 December 2025 – 1 pm 

Union Chain Bridge, opened in 1820, is the world’s oldest vehicular suspension bridge. By the 2010s, extensive deterioration necessitated major renewal of the full structure to provide a 120-year design life.

Completed in 2023, Northumberland County Council led a comprehensive scheme involving full dismantling, detailed inspection, and targeted replacement or refurbishment of chain components, utilising innovative access methods to avoid in-river works.

Works included new anchorages, replacement high-yield steel hangers, a redesigned timber deck, parapet refurbishment, masonry restoration, and removal of the 1903 wire rope system. The scheme provides valuable lessons on methodology, consultant involvement, and long-term maintenance planning.

In the first of our two webinars on this topic, we will explore the historical and technical challenges of the bridge, and proposals for the refurbishment.

The second webinar on this topic will take place on 9 December 2025, 1pm.

For further information and booking:

https://historicengland.org.uk/education/training-skills/training/webinars/technical-tuesdays/