Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge memories sought for centenary

The iconic blue Transporter Bridge is one of only three still in existence in Britain

A team of archivists are in Middlesbrough this week to collect people's memories of the Transporter Bridge to mark its centenary.

Opened in 1911, it celebrates its 100th birthday on 17 October and a team from Ryedale Folk Museum wants to make sure its impact is remembered forever.

They want people to come to the Transporter Curiosity Shop in Newport Road, and bring their memories and souvenirs with them.

The information collated will form a permanent archive dedicated to the structure.

Archivist Kathy Cremin said: "We are really into the idea of people being heritage activists, the idea that it's ordinary people.

"Everyone holds one sentence of the story and when you add it all together, that's the history.

"We wanted to come and work with the people who have the photographs and the songs.

"There's so much hidden here that needs to be celebrated."

Matchstick model

The blue Transporter Bridge is one of only three still in existence in Britain.

The fully operational 851ft (259.3m) long bridge connects Middlesbrough to Port Clarence.

The bridge has been a prominent feature of Middlesbrough's skyline for 100 years

The team running the project want to hear stories and memories from the public, and any memorabilia and photographs will also be welcomed.

Mike Benson, who is leading the team, said it was about everyone working together.

"It's all the little memories and emotions that the bridge instils in you and makes us who we are," he said.

The Curiosity Shop team has already discovered some objects relating to the bridge, including a matchstick model of the bridge and a Transporter Bridge quilt.

Middlesbrough-born comedian Roy Chubby Brown, who is supporting the project, said: "This is us isn't it? Gateshead have The Angel of the North, Geordie's have the Tyne Bridge, and we've got the transporter.

"It's what we're all about - its 26 miles of iron and steel industry, the blast furnaces, the mills and everything else that goes with it. This is what we're about."

To celebrate its 100th birthday, there are a series of events taking place in Middlesbrough.