Commemorative plaque unveiled to honour female member of Tyne Bridge design team

The Worshipful Mayor of Gateshead, Councillor Eileen McMaster, revealed the plaque on March 13.

L-R Meshi Taka, ICE North East regional chair, Cllr Eileen McMaster, Mayor of Gateshead, and Lauren Dunbar, Programme & Engagement Manager, The Common Room.

A commemorative plaque to honour Dorothy Buchanan has been unveiled on the South West tower of the Tyne Bridge. Dorothy was a member of the design team for the bridge and the first female member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).

The Common Room nominated Dorothy for the plaque as a part of its Inspiring Pioneers project, which celebrates women of the region who inspired great change.

The engineers’ history

Dorothy Buchanan (8 October 1899 – 13 June 1985) was a Scottish civil engineer, born at Langholm, Dumfriesshire. She pursued studies in civil engineering at the University of Edinburgh. She later started work for Dorman Long & Co. which saw her join the design team for the Tyne Bridge, managing the steelwork on the important landmark. She also worked on the design team for the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Buchanan achieved a professional qualification with the Institution of Civil Engineers, becoming the first woman in Britain to become a qualified civil engineer in December 1927. She previously remarked: ‘I felt that I represented all the women in the world. It was my hope that I would be followed by many others’.

The plaque reveal

Councillor Eileen McMaster, Mayor of Gateshead, unveiled the plaque on March 13, she said: “We are very proud to see such a pioneering woman honoured in Gateshead. The whole community feels such a strong connection to the Tyne Bridge, and its role as a symbol of our region, but many people will not be familiar with the story of Dorothy Buchanan and her achievements. It’s fantastic that she is now recognised for her contribution all these years later.”

Kate Lloyd, ICE Regional Director, said: “The ICE North East is delighted to see Dorothy Buchanan’s legacy commemorated on the Tyne Bridge. We hope that Dorothy’s story inspires women to embark upon a career as a chartered civil engineer and encourage women already in the industry to continue pursuing excellence by applying for Fellowship. A diverse and representative industry is imperative for the continued improvement of the built environment.”

This occasion marks the final installation of five plaques across the five Tyne and Wear local authorities by The Common Room, in partnership with Newcastle University, as part of the charity’s wider mission to raise the profile of underrepresented pioneers of change across the region. 

Lauren Dunbar, Programme & Engagement Manager at The Common Room, said: “Dorothy Buchanan was a true trailblazer in her field. As the first female member of the ICE, she was not only an inspiration for Civil Engineering but an important voice in the wider call for change in women’s right to work. Sharing her achievements as part of The Common Room’s Inspiring Pioneers project, in partnership with Newcastle University, has been an honour. By bringing stories of women to the fore of regional history, we have been able to open the conversation around representation of women in STEM roles. We hope to continue enabling young people to engage with these pioneers of the past.”