Repair Shop restores 1930 design for Humber Bridge

A 95-year-old design for the Humber Bridge has been restored.

Created in 1930, the original blueprint was later sent to Bernard Wex, the engineer responsible for the eventual design of the suspension bridge, which opened in 1981.

Angelina Bakalarou, from the BBC show The Repair Shop, fixed the piece of British engineering history after decades of damage, including insect droppings, tears and tape stains.

Mr Wex's granddaughter, Tillie Newnham, from Rugby, said: "It's something we will always cherish as a family and want others to know as well because we're so proud of what he achieved."

The 1.4 mile-long (2.2km) suspension bridge near Hessle took 10 years to build and was opened to traffic on 24 June 1981.

It was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on 17 July 1981.

The original drawing was by Sir Ralph Freeman, a civil engineer who was commissioned to come up with a design for vehicles to cross the Humber Estuary.

But the people of East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire would have to wait more than 50 years for a crossing to be completed.

While Sir Ralph's design was never realised, it was passed on to Mr Wex in the 1960s and he used it as inspiration for the bridge that can be seen today.

Mr Wex, who died in 1990, was appointed OBE for his contribution.

Ms Newnham said: "Our family generally view the bridge as that legacy that stands of his that keeps us connected to him. We call it grandad's bridge.

"It's really nice to have another connection to my grandfather. It can continue to be appreciated by our family and stay part of that pride we have in the bridge."

Ms Bakalarou, a paper conservator, had to deal with discolouration as well as missing sections caused by silverfish and small black dots from bug faeces.

She washed the drawing and joined up lines in pencil.

"Now the drawing has been conserved and treated, the family will be able to appreciate it without having to take a trip up to Hull to see the real thing," she said.

Ms Newnham said: "To build a bridge, it blows my mind and it's still standing."

Series 15, episode 1 of The Repair Shop can be watched on iPlayer.

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