Newport, Transporter Bridge - A postcard view published by F. Frith & Co. Ltd., Reigate and postdated April 1914. The formal opening of the bridge was held in inclement weather on the 12th September 1906 and the ceremony was conducted by the lord-lieutenant of Monmouth, Lord Tredegar. The engineer and contractor, Mr. Thorne, was presented to Lord Tredegar whom was presented with a silver controller and an explanation of the manner in which the car was controlled.

The Weekly Mail included the photo above and reported the event thus : 'The Town-clerk (Mr. A. A. Newman) having read the provisional certificate of completion, Lord Tredegar worked the controller with which he had been supplied, and the car sped on its first journey to the eastern bank of the river, amidst much cheering and the explosion of many detonators along the gaily-decked riverside.' - Weekly Mail - [067] [361] - 15th September 1906 [20191025]

In the first year of operation the transporter bridge conveyed 390,318 passengers. Sixpence (2.5p) was charged for going over the top of the transporter, and in the first year 10,000 persons crossed the bridge on this walkway. It is one of my claims to fame that I have crossed over at high level on two occasions. However, I don't think I could make the climb up all those steps some 50 years or so later!