The Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge has been a symbol of the area since it was opened in 1911. We are proud to celebrate its centenary this year with a host of special events, exhibitions and celebrations. It is the largest working transporter bridge in the world and a landmark symbol of Middlesbrough's engineering and industrial might. It has starred in film and television and is a beloved landmark and icon for our region.
Bridge the Gap - Write a Poem
What rhymes with Transporter? Poets everywhere are being challenged to put down their thoughts about Teesside’s landmark bridge for potential inclusion in a forthcoming book.
Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the as yet unnamed book of Transporter Bridge poetry has been commissioned by Middlesbrough Council as part of the ongoing celebrations to mark the structure’s centenary year in 2011.
It is being compiled by poet Andy Croft, Teesside’s unofficial literary historian, who wants more poets, no matter what their ability or views, to put their Transporter thoughts onto paper.
Rhymes, sonnets, limericks, odes and all other types of poem – and songs too - will be considered for inclusion in the book, which it is hoped will be published in the Spring.
Although he was born in Manchester, Middlesbrough-based Andy has lived on Teesside since 1983 and uses the town as the inspiration behind much of his work.
“I’m a Teessider by adoption, rather than by birth,” he says. “It’s my home now and, for better or for worse, it shapes my imagination. Teesside is one of the gloves I wear when I want to touch the world.
“The book is a way of adding to the permanent record of how a town that gets more than its fair share of knocks is able to, quite literally, stand tall through this extraordinary man- made structure.”
Poems that are contributed and accepted will be included in the book alongside many others Andy already has in his possession, including several of his own.
“Some of the poems are substantial, including one called ‘Hail Teesside’ by Cecil Day Lewis when he was poet laureate in the early 1970s,” reveals Andy. “Others are from absolute poetry beginners to distinguished and contemporary local poets.”
Well-known local poet Bob Beagrie has contributed to the book, as have pupils from Middlesbrough’s Brambles Farm, Thorntree and Pennyman primary schools, together with members of local history and heritage groups who worked with Andy on their poems.
Andy, who has already written 70 books, explains: “The poems aren’t just about what a beautiful, blue bridge we’ve got, though some of them are. Others reflect on the fact that there’s something slightly tragic about the Transporter, in that it’s a monument to the town’s defeat because we no longer have a need to get 5,000 working men across the river to build ships or make iron and steel.
“So it’s a bit of a dinosaur. Many of us like to think of it as our Angel of the North but, on one level, it’s our Beamish - a museum piece. It stands for the industrial glory that Teesside once was.”
But Andy, 55, knows the bridge has the ability to inspire. “The Transporter is something that has always been there in everyone’s living memory. It is part of the landscape, a permanent fixture, and yet everyone and everything has changed around it, so it is both permanent and shifting.
“It’s not just beautiful and iconic. It is a backdrop to people’s lives. It has played different roles in the lives of so many local people, who have either gone over it on the way to the seaside, have climbed on it or even courted there.”
How to take part
Transporter poems can be sent to Andy Croft c/o artsdevelopment@middlesbrough.gov.uk or Arts Development, Middlesbrough Council, PO Box 504, Middlesbrough, TS1 9FY. Contributors are asked to include their name and address with their poem and reference Transporter Bridge Poetry Book.
100 Beats of the Clock
One hundred photographs for 100 years.
Teesside photographer Charles Twist has devised a unique project called “100 beats of the clock” to celebrate the centenary of the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge.
He has taken 100 pictures of the Bridge at regular intervals from sunrise to sunset.
By maintaining the camera in the same position and at the same angle, the composition is constant, but the direction of the light and the events of the day change from one picture to the next.
The photographs symbolise the passage of time with each print representing a year since 1911.
Charles said: “The regularity of the sequence alludes to the bridge’s own rhythms – the to-ing and fro-ing of the gondola and the commuters, the ebb and flow of the tides – and also to the mechanisation of society which made the bridge both possible and necessary.
“The regularity of the shoot mirrors the labour-intensive construction of the bridge and may therefore be seen as performance art. This feeling is reinforced by the use of a camera and lens, which would have been available to a photographer of 1911.”
All the photographs have been captured directly on to the paper, there are no negatives or digital files created so there are no other copies once a particular print has sold.
Therefore, each print is unique and directly linked to the moment and place.
This method relies on the use of direct positive paper, which produces black and white prints on gloss, fibre paper.
Poet Ian Horn and ceramicist Claude Frere-Smith have also produced beautiful centenary commemorative plates inspired by the local heritage of Linthorpe Pottery, which will also be launched during this exhibition.
The limited edition plates carry Ian’s poetry that already adorns a wall on the route to the Riverside Stadium:
“Where alchemists were born below Cleveland's hills,
A giant blue dragonfly across the Tees reminds us every night,
We built the world.
Every metropolis came from Ironopolis.”
The Limited Editions form part of the Transporter Bridge centenary celebrations, which are funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Just 100 of each of the limited edition pieces – each inspired by the Transporter - will be produced.
All of the limited edition artwork is available to buy during the exhibition at The Heritage Gallery, and also from Gallery TS1 opposite the Empire night club on Corporation Road and the Transporter Bridge Visitor Centre. The Photographs are £40 each, while the plates are £60.
Private viewing is on January 19, 2012 6-8pm. Exhibition continues until February 3.
FREE ADMISSION. Open: 8.30am-5pm (Monday - Friday)
Address: Cargo Fleet Offices, Middlesbrough Road, Middlesbrough, TS6 6XH Tel: 01642 225 100
Heritage Gallery at Cargo Fleet
On Wednesday, January 25th, 7.15pm at the Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt enjoy the Transporter Bridge Reminiscence Film.
The film has been created from memories collected during the Transporter Bridge Centenary.
Free entry - call to reserve tickets on 01642 729 085 or email artsdevelopment@middlesbrough.gov.uk
Tickets are available on a first come first serve basis.
Centenary Celebrations Continue
Artwork, archive photographs and costumes representing the styles and fashions of the past century are all part of the ongoing Transporter Bridge Exhibition at Middlesbrough’s Dorman Museum.
The centenary exhibition also features original material from the museum’s own collection of Transporter-related objects.
Photographs of the construction, opening and ‘life’ of the bridge are accompanied by images created by many well-known local artists including Robin Dale, Ian MacDonald, Margaret Shields, Ged Hickey, Stephen Gill, Graham Lowe, Barbara Renton-Wood, Carole Allick, David Tarn, Alan Morley and many more.
Another major feature is costumes of the past century made for the exhibition by students from the Costume Construction for Stage & Screen course at Cleveland College of Art and Design in Hartlepool.
The Dorman Museum exhibition is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9.30am-5pm, through to early January. Admission is free.
Another Transporter Bridge exhibition is on display at Gallery TS1 on Corporation Road, close to Middlesbrough Town Hall. It includes limited edition artwork, which is available for sale at the gallery, the Town Hall Box Office and the Transporter Bridge Visitor Centre. There are also displays at the Visitor Centre itself.
The exhibitions are part of the Transporter Bridge centenary activities, which were made possible by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), who donated £2.6m towards the celebrations and major renovation works that will include the installation of a glass lift to the structure’s walkway 160 feet above the River Tees.
Thousands of Teessiders have already enjoyed centenary celebrations that included a carnival, fireworks, party, concerts, a dinner and bridge illumination, but there are still opportunities to get involved in the ongoing activities.
These include:
Take the plunge from the only bridge in England available for bungee jumping, with slots still available this year on December 4 and 18. To book online, visit www.ukbungee.co.uk. Trips to the top of the structure are also available during bungee jumps, priced just £4 each.
Take a centenary trip across the bridge by car or on foot. Pedestrians pay just 70p, while cars, motorcycles and vans up to three tonnes pay £1.30 per bay. Opening hours are 7am-7pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am-3.30pm Saturdays.
A free talk on the history of the Transporter by bridge historian Dave Allan at Teesside Archives, 6-8pm on Wednesday, November 23. To book, call 01642 248321.
A free talk by author Dave Allan and photographer Paul Farrer at mima at 5.30pm on Thursday December 15. No need to book.
Follow the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge on Facebook
Follow the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge on Twitter
LightMiddlesbrough
Monday 10 - Sunday 23rd October 7.30pm - 11.00pm
We celebrate the Transporter's soaring majesty with a dynamic lighting display. Each night after dark watch as the bridge is reconstructed from the ground up, then shifts, shimmers, vanishes, sparkles and reforms.
Tune in
At 8.30pm every night you can see a lighting display to a specifically written soundtrack. Download the music from http://www.lovemiddlesbrough.com/light
It's up to you
From Monday 17th October you can help to choose the lighting. Vote for your favourite on http://www.lovemiddlesbrough.com/light
Ironopolis Carnival and Fireworks Finale
Sunday 16th October 6-7.30pm
The centenary celebrations hit a high as over 800 young people take part in a street carnival featuring colourful costumes, lanterns, puppets and a 15-foot steel giant called Erimus! Each element depicts the history of the Transporter, the Tees and "Ironopolis - the town that built the world."
A spectacular live performance by internationally renowned company Emergency Exit Arts will bring the show to a breathtaking climax, before a fireworks finale featuring the illuminated Transporter Bridge as the towering backdrop.
mima will also be open late with entertainment from 5-6pm.
Ironopolis Carnival and Fireworks Finale Parade Route Map
View Ironopolis Carnival & Fireworks Finale Route Map in a larger map
Video of Ironopolis Carnival and Fireworks Finale!
Photos from Transporter Bridge Centenary Celebrations
Transporter Bridge Birthday Party
Monday 17th October at 1.30pm
Join the party at the foot of the bridge exactly 100 years after the structure's official opening. With special performances, official speeches and even a Transporter Bridge cake!
The bridge's visitor centre will also host a heritage exhibition, featuring Transporter artefacts, memories, photographs and video clips collated by the Centenary Reminiscence Project.
For those crossing the Transporter on the 100th birthday itself, there will be a special memento of the occasion.
100 Beats of the Clock
Local artist Charles Twist is based at the Transporter Bridge during the centenary, using a 1911 camera to take 100 photographs, documenting the day from sunrise to sunset.
Special guests
Descendents of two of the pioneers of the Transporter Bridge are returning to their Teesside roots this weekend to join in the celebrations marking the famous landmark’s centenary along with VIPs and local schoolchildren. Also attending the centenary celebrations is London-based author Freya North, a dedicated Transporter supporter, who based one of her love story novels, Secrets, around the bridge. Members of the public are invited as well.
Additional events in celebration of the Transporter Bridge Centenary
Library Talk at Stockton Library
Thursday 13th October at 2.00pm at Stockton Central Library Conference Room
Brian Glover gives a talk on the history of the Transporter Bridge.
100 Transporter Bridges Project
Friday 14th October at 10am-12noon and 1pm-3pm at mima
Saturdays at Phoenix Art Group
Join artist Adrian Moule in an etching project. To celebrate the centenary of the Transporter Bridge Artist Adrian Moule wants the public to get involved by coming along to an etching workshop where we will make 100 individual
etchings of the transporter bridge. This image will then be donated to MIMA, The Dorman Museum or the Visitor Centre to become a birthday card for the bridge.
Each person who takes part will be shown the etching process and make three prints, one for the collection and two to take home. And their name will be recorded with the image.
Workshops cost £8 to cover materials. Contact Adrian Moule to book your place as they are limited and for information on additional opportunities to participate on 07970202135 or adrianmoule66@hotmail.com
100 Transporter Bridges on Facebook
Middlesbrough Erimus Rotary Club Transporter Bridge Centenary Concerts
Friday 14th October at 7.30pm and Sunday 16th October at 3pm at Middlesbrough Town Hall
As part of the programme to celebrate the Centenary of Middlesbrough’s Transporter Bridge in October 2011, two concerts are to take place in the Town Hall. Both concerts have been arranged by Middlesbrough Erimus Rotary Club, with support from Middlesbrough Council.
Tickets for each concert can be purchased from the Town Hall Box Office (tel 01642 729729).
All proceeds from the concerts will go to local charities.
Folk concert
At 7.30pm on Friday 14th October, there will be a Folk Concert in the Town Hall Crypt.
Compered by Stewart McFarlane MBE, the concert will involve the Teesside Fettlers, the Ironopolis Singers and Flossie Malavialle. The programme will feature local and other songs from the ‘70s through to the recently penned Transporter Bridge Song. The evening will be cabaret style, with drinks and light snacks available for purchase throughout the evening.
Whilst the event promises to be a celebration of the town’s heritage, with particular emphasis on the Transporter Bridge, there will be great folk music for everyone to enjoy.
Tickets are £8. Licensing laws restrict attendance to over 18s
Classical concert
At 3pm on Sunday 16th October, the Eve of the Transporter Centenary, there will be a Classical Concert in the Town Hall, to be given by the internationally acclaimed Tees Valley Youth Orchestra and Tees Valley Youth Choir under the Directorship of Mr Chris Lewis.
Compered by John Foster from BBC Tees, the concert will present an opportunity to listen to and appreciate the extent of the area’s young musical talent as students perform a series of well known pieces.
The concert will be an excellent lead-in to the events that Middlesbrough Council is planning from early evening onwards, including a procession and a firework display.
Following the concert, the MIMA café and other local establishments will be open for the purchase of refreshments.
Tickets are £10 for adults and £3 for under 18s.
100 Birthday and Bungees and Ziplines for Mencap
Sunday 16 October 9am-5pm
The Tees Transporter Bridge is set for a bouncing birthday when 100 brave-hearted thrill-seekers bungee jump from the iconic structure on the eve of its centenary. As part of an exciting range of activities taking place to celebrate the Transporter’s 100th anniversary, the bridge will host 100 bungee jumps in one day for the first time on Sunday October 16.
The only UK bridge licensed for bungee jumps, the Transporter attracts a steady flow of adrenalin junkies from across the country when it hosts the extreme sport two Sundays each month.
The structure is estimated to have played host to more than 7,000 bungee jumps since Evening Gazette journalist Will Sutton became the first to take a 160-feet dive from its walkway high above the River Tees in 2006.
The birthday bungees will start at 9am on October 16, with the last leap set for 5pm, just an hour before a spectacular carnival is set to begin from Middlesbrough’s Centre Square, making its way to the riverside before a fabulous firework finale.
All bungee spots for October 16 are now sold out. visit UK Bungee for future bungee opportunities and see below for the opporunity to Zip Slide!
Zip slides from the bridge, priced £20 each, in aid of MENCAP are also available on October 16. For more details visit MENCAP - Zip slides. Tours to the top of the bridge will be priced £3.50 each with no booking required.
Read Love Middlesbrough: Bouncy birthday set for the Transporter
Big Screen: Transporter Bridge
Sunday, 16th October at 3-6.30pm & Monday, 17th October at Noon to 4pm in Centre Square
Celebrate the Centenary in Centre Square with wonderful short films and classic footage from the Transporter Bridge's 100years in operation.
See special reports from local girl Kirsten O'Brien, in her films for BBC1's Inside Out (North East & Cumbria) programme.
Get a sneak preview of the programme to be transmitted on the evening of Monday, October 17, on BBC1. The Inside Out team gets memories from well-known local names including the creator of Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Franc Roddam, comedian Roy "Chubby" Brown, Ali Brownlee from BBC Tees, and the chief executive of Middlesbrough Council. The programme also looks back at the Bridge's part in popular culture, including the well-known scenes from Auf Wiedersehen, Pet - in which the bridge was "virtually" moved from Teesside to the U.S. by the lads in the series.
Thankfully it's still with us, and other short films to be screened include people bungee jumping off it, cycling across it, plus there's historic footage from the Northern Region Film & TV Archive, based at Teesside University.
We'll also be featuring a montage of stunning pictures from photographer Paul Farrer, who's supplied photography for The Transporter the limited edition book commissioned in honour of this special occasion.
Basketball: Tadea Middlesbrough Lions game a Transporter Bridge Centenary special
Sunday, 16th October at 4pm, Doors open at 3pm in Eston Sports Academy TS6 9AE
TADEA Middlesbrough Lions v Oldham Titans is celebrating the Transporter Bridge Centenary! Gain entry for just £2 by mentioning the ‘Transporter Bridge’ at entry.
Every Adult will receive a FREE Yankee Candle thanks to Heaven Scent Middlesbrough and at Half Time there will be a ‘silly sale’ of Yankee Candle products.
The doors open at 3pm on Sunday 16th October and the game begins at 4pm.
FREE Yankee Candles are limited and provided on first come first served basis.
Loads of activity and fun for everyone including music, sound effects, competitions, prizes and Sam Dunk, the big cuddly Lions mascot!
Game ends at about 5.30 leaving you with plenty of time to get to the Ironopolis Carnival and Fireworks Finale!
View the poster for the game now
Cob takes trip back in time
Centenary weekend
A 100-year-old former tugboat built at Middlesbrough’s famous Smiths Dock has sailed up from London to join in the Tees Transporter Bridge centenary celebrations this weekend.
Owner James Muggoch and crew have brought the ‘Cob’ on a 350-mile sea and river trip from its normal mooring on the Thames, near London’s Kew Bridge for an emotional return to the place it was built in November 1911.
James hopes to make take members of the public on free river trips over the forthcoming weekend. First on board this Saturday will be the Middlesbrough Sea Cadets, led by officer in charge John Reilly. The cadets will be given a talk and tour of the boat before enjoying a 20-minute trip along the river from the Transporter to Smiths Dock.
The Cob will also make a special sailing to celebrate her own centenary near to the site of the original Smith’s Dock on November 5 and 6. For further information contact James Muggoch on 07507 844898.
Middlesbrough Little theatre Company presents Olde Tyme Music Hall
Wednesday 19 - Saturday 22 October at 7.30pm, matineee on Saturday 2.30pm
at Middlesbrough Theatre
Join in their tribute to the artistes of 1911 when the Transporter Bridge was opened. Songs, sketches and dances for your delectation and delight!
£9.50/Concessions £8 Box office: 01642 81 51 81
Transporter Bridge Centenary Dinner for Charity
Friday 28th October at 7pm until late at Middlesbrough Town Hall
In October 1911 Teessiders celebrated the opening of our world famous bridge with a dinner in Middlesbrough Town Hall.
Exactly 100 years later in the very same venue enjoy an amazing night of great food and wine, music, dancing and entertainment.
All guests' names will become part of the night's official record which will be preserved in archives until the bridge's 200 year celebration in 2111!
BBCTV impressionist Kevin Connelly is our host for the evening steering us through arrival drinks, dinner, wine and entertainment.
The event for up to 300 guests is being organised by Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation.
Tickets are £75 per person or £750 for a table of ten in aid of the Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation.
How to book
Tickets are selling fast for the Centenary Dinner, which takes place on Friday October 28. Prices are £750 for a table of 10. To book your seats visit www.transporter100.com or call 01642 220964.
Teesside community groups in need of funding are encouraged to visit www.teessidecharity.org.uk
Transporter Bridge Centenary Exhibitions
Transporter Bridge at the Dorman Musem
27 September - 23 December 2011
The centenary exhibition features original material from the museum’s own collection of Transporter-related objects, artwork and archive photographs, and costumes representing the styles and fashions of the past century.
The Dorman’s archive collection of objects, documents, ephemera and memorabilia includes the structure’s original plaque, a souvenir brochure commemorating the 1911 opening, ceramic fuses, a trolley wheel from the bridge’s upper carriage and an electrical pick-up which took power to and from the cab on the Transporter gondola.
After a highly successful six-month showing at Saltburn’s Artsbank, photographs, drawings, prints and paintings of the bridge will also be on display.
They include photographs of the construction, opening and ‘life’ of the bridge together with images created by some well-known local artists including Robin Dale, CSCape, Ian MacDonald, Margaret Shields, Ged Hickey, Stephen Gill, Graham Lowe, Barbara Renton-Wood, Carole Allick, David Tarn, Alan Morley and many more.
About the Dorman Museum
The Dorman Museum is open Monday to Sunday every week, 9.30am-5pm. Admission is free.
The museum is located next to Albert Park and the Cenotaph just off Linthorpe Road. Middlesbrough railway and bus stations are a 20 minute walk away on a mostly level route.
There are frequent buses 11,12,27 & 63 that travel along Linthorpe Road.
Parking is permitted on the street to the front and side of the museum.
Please use postcode TS5 6LA to locate the museum using Sat Nav systems or route planner websites.
The history of the region's geological, social and industrial heritage can be seen at the Dorman Museum. The museum opened to the public in 1904 and has on display the largest publicly-owned collection of Linthorpe Pottery as well as an amazing ornithological collection, perserved in its original Edwardian setting. Enjoy the great range of eight themed display galleries, full disabled access throughout and additional facilities such as café and education suite.
See photos of the artists with their works
Hinterland at Python Gallery
14 October - 14 November 2011
Specially commissioned for the centenary year, Stephen Gill's photographs are being shown for the first time in a series of exhibitions, the Dorman Museum above, this exhibition at the Python Gallery and at the Corus exhibition below. His work explores, engages with and maps the ever changing landscape that the Transporter Bridge inhabits. The Python Gallery is located on Gosford Street in Royal Middlehaven House, TS2 1BB. It is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.
Preview evening
Join us for the preview of this exhibtion on Friday October 14 6-8.30pm. at the Python Gallery.
Corus at the Heritage Gallery
7 October - 2 December 2011
The Heritage Gallery is located at Cargo Fleet House, Middlesbrough Road, TS6 6XH
This exhibition focuses on the heavy industrial heritage of Teesside as part of a long-term project the photographer Stephen Gill is undertaking.
My Transporter Bridge Competition
To celebrate the 100th birthday of the Transporter Bridge, why not create your very own masterpiece of the Transporter Bridge.
As part of the birthday celebrations, mima has teamed up with Evening Gazette to launch the 'My Transporter Bridge Competition.' Let your imagination run wild and create a design incorporating Teesside's much loved grade II-listed landmark bridge.
A panel of judges including Kate Brindley, mima director; Charlotte Wood, founder member of mima’s The Modern Times group; Karen McLauchlan, deputy business and features editor at the Evening Gazette; Andy Preston, chairman at Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation; Dave Allan, author, and Stephen Gill, artist, have been tasked with choosing three winning designs and a handful of favourites from your creations.
Three lucky winners will have their work displayed in mima, beautifully framed and labelled and will also receive a great mima goody bag. Along with the three winners, a handful of favourite designs will also be displayed in a special exhibition in November at mima followed by a My Transporter Bridge souvenir supplement in the Evening Gazette.
The competition is open to all ages and is divided into three categories:
- 2D colouring sheet - a line drawing that mima can reprint for others to colour in
mima’s artist-designed colouring sheets have proved popular at mima and are currently displayed in Centre Space, an area for mima visitors of all ages to draw, colour and play. Your colouring sheet needs to be a line drawing that we can reprint for others to colour in, on a white square piece of paper no bigger than 42cm square.
- 3D sculpture - anything is possible from knitted bridges to junk sculptures
Groups, families or individuals will have plenty of fun with the 3D category. From knitted bridges and junk sculptures to good old-fashioned matchstick building, why not have a go. No size restriction. (Please submit photographs only of your work/sculpture. Mima will not except 3D original works).
- 2D mixed media - get creative using a range of materials and techniques
Put all your talents to the test with this category and get creative using a range of materials and techniques. There’s no size or material restrictions. Have a go at drawing, painting, photography - or any other creative method that takes your fancy. (Original hard copies only please)
Download: mima Transporter Bridge competition Entry Form
Download mima Transporter Bridge competition entry form
Alternatively entry forms are available from mima reception. All entries should be submitted by 4pm on Saturday 29th October to mima reception.
Useful links
Transporter Bridge Centenary Celebrations
Evening Gazette: My Transporter Bridge Competition
Transporter Bridge Centenary Competition on ListenUpNorth.com
To celebrate the 100th birthday of Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge, listenupnorth.com and writers' block NE joined together to run a writing competition. Taking this magnificent structure as inspiration, we wanted to encourage the best in creative writing and so put a call out for poems, short stories and monologues. The response was not only local, but further afield including London, Liverpool, The Isle of Wight, Norfolk and even Canada! Enjoy the winning entries at this link
Download the celebrations leaflet
Download the Transporter Bridge Centenary Celebrations leaflet
Past events celebrating the Centenary
Transporter Bridge Talk by Dave Allen at Teesside Archives
Wednesday 7th September at 6pm at Teesside Archives
Dave Allen author of the new book The Transporter speaks at Teesside Archives
Transporter Bridge Centenary Concert - World Premiere
Thursday 15th September at 7.45pm at Middlesbrough Town Hall
Join us for the launch of Middlesbrough Town Hall's brand new classical season as an extended Northern Sinfonia exclusively perform the world premiere of a symphony dedicated to Middlesbrough and it's Football Club.
The Middlesbrough Symphony was written by local composer David F Golightly, who has the reputation of an 'Englishman with a Russian Soul'.
It will be performed live for the first time to mark the 100th birthday of Middlesbrough's iconic landmark The Transporter Bridge.
Box office: (01642) 729 729. Regular ticket price: £25; Concessions £22.50.
Programme information
Conductor: Tim Redmond. Programme: David F Golightly: Symphony No.1 'Middlesbrough Symphony', Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite, Three movements only: 9. Infernal Dance, 10 Lullaby (Berceuse), 11. Final, Hymn, Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
Listen to a selection of the Middlesbrough Symphony
Listen to an excerpt of the Middlesbrough Symphony performed by the City of Prague Orchestra
Middlesbrough Theatre Transporter Bridge Centenary Shaw theatre Season
As their contribution to the Transporter Bridge Centenary Celebrations, Middlesbrough Theatre has commissioned a rare revival of Bernard Shaw’s Fanny’s First Play, written in 1911 – the year the Transporter Bridge opened. Shaw’s greatest West End hit, it is now one of his least-known plays, but still one of his funniest. The Mysterious Mr. Love and Pygmalion will also be performed.
Download: Promotional Theatre Card
Discover Middlesbrough events including short film 100 Years
The Discover Middlesbrough festival, an annual 2-week festival in partnership with Heritage Open Days celebrates the best of Middlesbrough and 2011 featuring a number of events to mark the Centenary. Download the Discover Middlesbrough 2011 brochure.
Events included bungee jumps, a centenary cycle ride, 1911 walking tours and the launch of the Transporter editions. Nearly 700 people took the opportunity to climb the Transporter Bridge.
Middlesbrough College students explored 100 years of Middlesbrough History and created a "Banquet Fit for a Prince."
As part of the original celebrations surrounding the opening of the Transporter Bridge, Prince Arthur Connaught and 500 guests attended a banquet in the Town Hall. Prince Arthur also opened the Kirby Secondary School of which Middlesbrough College is a direct descendant. To celebrate Middlesbrough College Catering students recreated some of the dishes served in 1911. The Town Meal featured an Edwardian theme.
Money, power, sex, drugs and politics collide in a dramatic film about the Transporter Bridge that received its premiere during the festival (September 19).
Described as a dark, abstract film, ‘100 Years’ is set in the Victorian era and covers a dramatic tale about the building of the iconic structure across the River Tees.
Written by Middlesbrough-born director Jonathan Thompson and created by the award-winning film-makers Cold Up North, the controversial 15-minute film covers the events that lead to the building of the Transporter back in 1911 as the ghosts of that time re-inhabit the town on the eve of the bridge’s 100th anniversary.
Co-starring Charlie Walduck of ITV’s ‘This Morning’, ‘100 Years’ features professional actors and community members with no previous experience of acting.
Watch the video 100 Years below!
Limited editions in celebration of the Transporter Bridge Centenary
In celebration of the Transporter Bridge Centenary a number of limited editions have been produced.
Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Centenary Book
Published by Middlesbrough Council, the 200-page hardback tells the history of the mechanical marvel that dominates the Teesside skyline, one foot in Middlesbrough and the other in Port Clarence, Stockton.
It tells of the ferry system that preceded the bridge, explains why the Transporter was built and of its heyday when no fewer than 5.1 million pedestrians a year – most of them workers from the thriving steelworks and shipyards - crossed the Tees on its travelling carriage.
The Transporter is packed full of anecdotes and memories about the bridge, and features dozens of archive photographs, many of them unseen for many years, including several from the structure’s grand opening on October 17, 1911.
Priced £15, The Transporter – which has been printed on carbon-balanced paper by local firm HPM - is on sale now. All profits from the book will be reinvested back into the future of the Transporter Bridge.
Retail outlets
| Venue | Phone number |
| Waterstones Middlesbrough |
01642 242682 |
| Guisborough Book Store | 01287 610179 |
| MFC Club Shop |
|
| Transporter Bridge Visitor Centre | 01642 247563 |
| Middlesbrough Council Libraries | 01642 729002 |
| mima | 01642 726720 |
| Dorman Musem |
01642 813781 |
| Captain Cook Birthplace Museum |
01642 311211 |
| Middlesbrough Tourist Information Centre | 01642 729700 |
| Teesside Archives | 01642 248321 |
| Stockton Library Service | 01642 526522 |
| Stockton Tourist Information Centre | 01642 526473 |
| Preston Hall Museum | 01642 527375 |
| Redcar and Cleveland Tourist Information Centre | 01642 774774 |
| ArtsBank | 01642 625300 |
Please note websites are included for location purposes and do not indicate online sales except in the case of www.mfcofficialdirect.co.uk where they are now available.
Transporter Bridge Limited Edition Art Available Now
Artists and their apprentices have collaborated to create two limited edition artworks that are sure to become part of local history.
The pieces are the result of the Gallery TS1 Arts Apprenticeship Scheme, a pioneering creative opportunity in which young people not in education, employment or training, work alongside artists to create saleable artworks.
Over a two-week period, the apprentices worked with the artists to produce an unusual iron cast of the Transporter’s controller and handmade resin casts from cogs on the iconic structure.
Adam explained: “We walked over the Transporter Bridge to get a feeling for the structure and its history, but also to make small clay impressions of aesthetic parts of the bridge that would give a good definition, would tell a story and reflect on the bridge’s engineering and industrial heritage.”
Plaster castings of the clay impressions were produced, from which the apprentices chose a pattern produced from the Transporter’s old controller, which operated the bridge for 99 years until its replacement last year.
The finished pieces were cast in iron by Middlesbrough’s William Lane Foundry, once one of 140 local foundries but now the only one still in operation and based close to the Transporter itself.
The apprentices also worked with Vicky and creative writer Laura Degnan to create the resin-cast relief sculpture inspired by the Transporter blue and the structure’s centenary.
Vicky said: “The cable wheels, which feature in the design, represent the 'heart' of the bridge, taking people across the river for 100 years. The scroll-like element of the sculpture stems from a commemorative theme as well as traditional tattoo designs that influenced the apprentices.”
“The limited editions are history and art in one,” added Adam. “Producing them was a wonderful experience for the young people and I think one or two of them have the talent to become artists in their own right.”
All of the limited edition artwork is available from the TS1 Gallery opposite the Empire night club on Corporation Road, the Town Hall Box Office and the Transporter Bridge Visitor Centre. The iron and resin casts are £40 each, while the plates are £80.
Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Centenary Edition Library Card
Ask your library about the new limited edition Transporter Bridge Centenary Library Cards! All new members over the age of 4 will receive one. If you are already a member you can replace your card for £1.50 (the standard replacement charge).
Heritage Lottery Fund Award News
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced confirmed funding of £2.6m for the Grade II listed Transporter Bridge, one of only a handful of its kind in the world. The Bridge links Middlesbrough and Port Clarence and is a spectacular landmark on the River Tees
Ivor Crowther, Head of HLF North East, said:
“Middlesbrough’s Transporter Bridge is an iconic structure for Middlesbrough and also stands as an important reminder of the town’s long steel and engineering heritage. The Heritage Lottery Fund is delighted to be able to support the Council’s ambitious restoration plans that will give visitors a far better experience and help everyone learn about its fascinating history.”
Kevin McCloud, author, broadcaster and designer, said:
“The Transporter Bridge, sitting bang in the middle of Middlesbrough, is an extraordinary example of engineering, something long associated with this part of the world. The bridge also demonstrates the very British enthusiasm for practical problem-solving. This is why it’s great news that the Heritage Lottery Fund has invested £2.6m into the future of the bridge, enabling the local community and visitors to get involved with this special landmark in new and exciting ways.”
HLF’s grant will enable essential improvements to be undertaken, including installing new lifts and restoring the gondola and existing walkways. A range of educational activities will also be on offer such as trips to the Teesside Archives where people will have the chance to learn more about the bridge’s extensive history and workshops for local schools. Volunteers will be given opportunities to lead guided tours, arrange talks and help with important maintenance work.
Councillor Nicky Walker, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Transport, said:
“The Transporter Bridge is a hugely important part of both Middlesbrough’s past and of its future, so this is fantastic news for the town and the region as a whole.The Transporter is an engineering icon and a landmark held dear by millions, and I’m delighted that that status has been given such tangible recognition. This is already a year of celebration with the centenary in October, and the modern improvements made possible by this grant will ensure the Transporter can continue both as a working bridge and as a major tourist attraction for many more decades to come.”
Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said:
“This funding will enable a whole new era for the Transporter Bridge, so it’s tremendous news in its centenary year. As a flagship for the region, it does more than simply link the communities of Billingham and The Clarences with Middlesbrough. This award will help bring the Transporter to the attention of many more people, who will enjoy a visit to this historic bridge.”
Project benefits
The project will benefit visitors by not only enjoying the panoramic view but also gaining a greater understanding of the history of the Bridge and the surrounding industrial heartland. These include:
- The installation of glass viewing lifts, giving visitors stunning views across the Tees Valley and a bird’s eye view of the former industrial heart of the region.
- Improvements to the walkway across the top to increase public access.
- Motor replacement to improve reliability, enhanced signage and improved lighting.
- Restoration work to the gondola, provision of a viewing area to the motor room, visitor centre upgrade.
- A 7-month programme of celebration events to raise awareness of the Bridge and the area’s heritage with a major celebration on its 100th anniversary.
In recent years the Transporter has become a centre for extreme sports with regular events involving 1,500 visitors in bungee jumping, zip lining and abseiling from the structure.