Kingsgate Bridge – - Atlas Obscura

One would be hard pressed to find two cities as diametrically opposed as Durham in the north of England with Sidney the capital of Australia. Though Durham is home to the third oldest university in the United Kingdom, it doesn’t even rank in the top 50 cities of Britain based on population. While Sydney on the other hand is the largest metropolis on the world’s smallest continent. Though there is an unique structural interrelation that binds these two metropolitan areas together.

When confronted to name one the world’s greatest architectural landmarks, the Sydney Opera House is sure to be listed in the top ten. What many people might not be aware of, is that the chief design engineer of this magnificent structure is a Newcastle born native named Sir Ove Arup (1895 - 1988). Sir Arup is also responsible for creating the brutalist footbridge, known as the Kingsgate Bridge, that spans over the town’s Wear River.

Not only is Sir Arup the draftsman for the Dunlem House, which resides on the eastern expanse, he is also known as ‘The Godfather of Total Architecture”. Kingsgate Bridge was completed in 1963, 10 years prior to the Sydney Opera House, and it took 16 years to complete. An interesting feature is that the concrete construction did not employ the use of scaffolding. The bridge was built in two separate halves on each bank of the river, and then these were rotated together and joined by a bronze expansion joint.

Durham is home to several bridges,(https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/elvet-bridge-durham) but the Kingsgate Bridge is the one that unites the medieval quarter of the Cathedral with the modern day institution of higher learning. It is listed as a Grade 1 listed building. A bust, as well as a plaque of Sir Ove Arup can be found adhered to Dunlem House. Sir Arup instructed that his ashes be dispersed from his pedestrian creation.

Know Before You Go

Kingsgate Bridge is a pedestrian only footbridge that open and accessible at all times. There are lights for evening time, it is not handicap friendly. It is located adjacent to Bow Lane on the west and Church Street on the east.

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