Tantallon House on Hadrian’s Wall

Just downstream from the Roman Bridge at Willowford is an award winning modern steel bridge. This is the first bridge that has crossed the River Irthing at Willowford, and I suppose many miles down stream as well, since Roman Times. People used to cross the river by wading or we have been told by local people, that there was a flying fox type of rope crossing. The Bridge was designed by Napper Architects (a practice based in Newcastle). The design is in steel, gently curved across the river, and beautifully uses the curve of the bridge to cover the difference in height between the banks. The main material is Corten which is a weathering steel. The steel rusts and forms a protective film to stop further rusting. There is no painting and maintenance is minimal.

As this area is sensitive countryside with little access for heavy lorries, the bridge was fabricated in two sections and helicoptered in, (no doubt the local MOD base at Spadeadam helped here as this is only a few miles away and often seems to fly helicopters and jets around us). There must have been some temporary works on the middle of the river to support the bridge while is was bolted up. The hand rails are hardwood(?) with stainless steel cables used for the infill. The deck again would appear to be hardwood as this is unprotected.

Cross bracing can be seen on the underside and it is supported by 2 columns at the “higher” end. Interestingly, when you walk across, you can set the bridge moving as by walking heavily on it, the deck starts to respond. The bridge was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and won a Regional Architectural Award (which I assume was administered by RIBA).

If you want to take a great walk to see some wonderful sections of the Roman Wall, there is no better place to stay than Tantallon House B&B and take the walk to Birdoswald and along the river to Gilsland Village. Of particular note on the walk is Willow Ford Roman Bridge. This is set on the banks of the River Irthing and, with a bit of imagination and the pictures set on the notice boards adjacent to the site, you can see just how good at engineering the Romans were.

The first bridge was built in AD 122 to AD 128 when Hadrian’s Wall was first set out. It comprised of a tower, which housed a flight of steps which accessed the top of the bridge. It is thought that this bridge may have collapsed in AD 160 to AD 180.

Second Bridge. This had a superstructure in timber and the old tower was demolished. A new larger tower was built to the east side. The end of the bridge incorporated a platform of masonry to the north of the Wall which acted as a retaining wall to protect the bridge from the fast river flows. There are sluices still visible on the site which are assumed to act as some kind of flood control.

Third Bridge. The tower was removed, the bridge widened and a ramp was constructed. There was also built, a new end to the bridge and pier. It was now known as the Military Way.What can you see today? There are some good descriptions on the boards to show you what the bridge was like, and you can work out from the pictures each section of the bridge built at the different times. You can still see the sluices, the wall, piers, ramps etc and also how the Romans connected the stones together, They cut slots in the stone and joined them with iron or lead cramps. (If you go to the Chesters Bridge at Chollerford you can see the circular holes in the stones for a kind of crane!)

What I find amazing about this today is not only the Roman construction but the way the River Irthing has moved about 200 metres westward and left the bridge behind. The Romans built the bridge not perpendicular to the river flow but almost parallel to the river, so as the river cut away at the rocks and soil on the bend, it gradually moved away from the bridge.It is a wonderful setting and the bridge is only one of 3 on the Wall. Well worth a visit, but only accessible by foot, about 10 minutes walk from Birdoswald.

About 10 minutes walk from our B&B is the Irthing Gorge. This is a great place for a walk in amongst the woods with the River Irthing running through the area.

One of the places to visit on the walk is Popping Stones. Local legend has it that Sir Walter Scott proposed to his future wife on the prominent rocks that lie beside the river and and it has been known ever since as Popping Stones. There are 2 stones which sit side by side which are rounded, well worn and bear signs of work by modem masons. Reshaping did take place around 1870 according to the historical records (thanks to Will Higgs here). It is a wonderful place to sit and watch the river and wildlife. Visiting today, the route was muddy, but it does dry out significantly in the summer. The river water was flowing out from a tributary half way up the gorge cliff. (reminiscent of Scotland here) and I have also seen a heron flying though.

The area is administered by the woodland trust and the whole Gorge is protected.