The Gaunless Bridge, designed by George Stephenson, formed part of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.
Locomotion in Shildon, County Durham, today re-opened to the public, after being closed since 17 March because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Locomotion is the first museum in the Science Museum Group to open after lockdown, and will be followed by the National Railway Museum in York next week on 4 August.
As part of preparing for re-opening, the museum at Shildon has introduced some significant changes designed to keep the site safe and comfortable. Visitors will be required to book a timed slot in advance. Tickets are free and available from the museum’s website, and overall visitor numbers will be limited each day to avoid overcrowding.
Today is also marked by the announcement that the world’s first iron railway bridge will be returning to County Durham for permanent display at the Shildon museum. Locomotion is a hugely important gathering place, and a source of great pride for the people of Shildon, a small town that can rightly call itself the 'cradle of the railways'.
Designed by renowned railway pioneer George Stephenson, Gaunless Bridge is the first iron railway bridge in the world. Built in 1823 in Newcastle upon Tyne, the bridge spanned the River Gaunless in West Auckland, County Durham, on the Stockton & Darlington Railway, a location just a short distance from Shildon.
Locomotion, the National Railway Museum and Cleveland Bridge—the world-leading bridge builders—are delighted to be working together to return The Gaunless Bridge to Shildon, County Durham.
The bridge was dismantled in 1901 and carefully preserved. It was later rebuilt for an exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1925 and then became a centrepiece of the North Eastern Railway’s museum which opened in York in 1927. The bridge was moved to its current location in York as part of the development of the National Railway Museum which opened in 1975.
The move of the Gaunless Bridge to Locomotion is the latest addition to an ambitious conservation project effort, including the preservation of a series of important historic buildings for future generations to enjoy. In total, seven buildings are being preserved, including railway cottages, the goods shed and parcel office. The buildings are a fantastic asset to the Locomotion site and add to the rich history of the area in terms of connections with the Stockton & Darlington Railway, Timothy Hackworth, and the development of the railways.
As well as preserving its historic buildings, a £4.5m plan will see the construction of a new, 4,000m2 ‘Building Two’, close to the existing visitor centre which will almost double the amount of covered space available to the public. The building will house up to 50 vehicles from the national collection, bringing the total number of rail vehicles at Locomotion to more than 120.
Judith McNicol, Director of the National Railway Museum, said: ‘When we closed the doors of Locomotion and the other museums in the Science Museum Group in March, none of us knew when we might be able to welcome back visitors. So being here today in Shildon to celebrate the re-opening of Locomotion is a hugely significant and emotional moment. I am incredibly proud of the work that the team here in Shildon have done to make the museum a safe space, ready to be enjoyed once again by visitors. Our museums are nothing without them.’
Sarah Price, Head of Locomotion, said: “Gaunless Bridge is an object of tremendous historical, cultural and technological significance for the North East of England. Bringing it to Locomotion will return it to the route of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, give a focal point to the redevelopment of the museum and restore a great source of local pride and identity to the community in which the museum sits.”
Chris Droogan, Managing Director of Cleveland Bridge said: “We are delighted to be able to support the return of the Gaunless Bridge back to Shildon. This is a major part of the North East’s industrial rail heritage and as an internationally renowned bridge builder from the North East, we are proud of our roots and the significance this area played in the transformative railway industry”
Terry Collins, Chief Executive of Durham County Council, said: “It is absolutely fantastic that Locomotion has been able to reopen safely to the public and will once again welcome visitors to the museum. The Gaunless Bridge is an important part of County Durham’s heritage, and railway history globally, so the move will not only see this piece return to its cultural home but will attract visitors from across the county and further afield who will all be eager to see the new exhibition.”
Locomotion was first opened by then Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2004, as a partnership between Sedgefield Borough Council and the National Railway Museum, with funding from both partners and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The museum currently welcomes around 200,000 visitors each year and is England’s most northerly national museum. Locomotion has received more than 2.5m visitors since opening.
Ends
For more information, please contact:
Simon Baylis
+44 (0)1904 686 299
simon.baylis@railwaymuseum.org.uk
Peter Livesey
+44 (0)1904 809 646
peter.livesey@railwaymuseum.org.uk
About Locomotion/The National Railway Museum
- Locomotion offers visitors the chance to see highlights of the national collection of railway vehicles in Shildon, the world’s first railway town
- Locomotion forms part of the Science Museum Group, along with the Science Museum in London, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford and the National Railway Museum in York
- Locomotion is a partnership between the Science Museum Group and Durham County Council, which is a major funder of the museum
- The National Railway Museum in York has the largest collection of railway objects in the world and attracts more than 750,000 visitors per year
- The collection includes over 260 locomotives and rolling stock, 600 coins and medals as well as railway uniform and costume, equipment, documents, records, artwork and photographs.
- Admission to Locomotion and the National Railway Museum is free
- For more information visit www.locomotion.org.uk /www.railwaymuseum.org.uk
