ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

During the Second World War there occurred a freak incident that preserved one of the North East's most famous landmarks. The Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough straddles the River tees from the southern Middlesbrough bank across to the northern Port Clarence bank. It is today, one of only two operating in the world.

In the early years of the Second World War a single German bomber was making its way back to Germany after taking part in a raid and had some bombs left which the pilot decided to jettison to lighten his payload.

One of the bombs passed through the superstructure of the bridge and detonated when it hit the water. Unfortunately other bombs did cause damage in the St Hilda's area of Middlesbrough - but I believe there were no casualties. One of the areas that was destroyed remains a bare patch of land to this day.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.