Nicholson family developing a Tyne Bridge legacy
A family-run steelworks company from Washington is playing a key role in supporting the Tyne Bridge restoration project.
Charlie (left) and Paul (right) become second and third generation of Nicholson family to work on the Tyne Bridge. Image Credit: Andrew Heptinstall Photography.
Work to repair and restore the Tyne Bridge in time for its 100th anniversary in 2028 is underway and for G Nicholson (Engineer) Ltd it marks a special occasion, with father and son Paul and Charlie Nicholson becoming the second and third generation of the Nicholson family to work on the iconic North East structure.
G Nicholson (Engineer) Ltd was founded 70 years ago, in 1954 by Paul’s grandfather, George Nicholson, when he purchased land at Washington Pit, the business started out repairing plant machinery. Since then though, Nicholsons have developed into a key player in the region’s construction and steelworks industry.
Through the years the Nicholsons have worked on notable North East projects, including the High Level Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Newburn Bridge, Redheugh Bridge and the Tyne Tunnel. The business’ first dealings with the Tyne Bridge came in 1984, when George and his two sons, George and John were contracted to replace expansion joints, ladders and hatches. Additional steelworks involved providing access routes to the levels under the bridge deck as they worked with Sheldon’s, the main contractor on the bridge during those works.
John Nicholson worked on the Tyne Bridge in 1984 and was also involved in the early design phase for the latest restoration programme.
Managing Director, Paul Nicholson, said: “I was always in the factories from the age of five or six, so I’ve always grown up around construction. I probably came to have a look around when my dad [John] was working on the site in the 1980s. I know he was very proud to work on the project and to contribute to the upkeep of this regional landmark.”
Fast forward to 2024, and the Nicholson family is once again involved in the Tyne Bridge’s restoration, this time with Paul Nicholson at the helm. Paul, who began working in the family business at the age of 15, is now 53 and continues the family tradition. His son, Charlie Nicholson, represents the third generation of the family to work on the bridge, having joined the company at 16. He is currently completing an apprenticeship in welding and fabrication.
While the main repair works commenced earlier this year after the scaffolding was installed on the Gateshead quayside late 2023, Paul and his son Charlie’s venture on the Tyne Bridge started 18 months ago as they carried out investigation and surveying works on the bridge’s structure and stability.
Paul added: “Working on the Tyne Bridge for a second time is a great achievement for our business. We were brought into the job a year and a half ago to do some surveying works. We collected material samples to be sent for analysis so that we could see what the bridge is made out of and what strength it was. We also took paint samples so we could send them away to see what was in the paint – because it contains lead we had to understand what level of hazardous waste is within it.”
From those initial investigations, the Nicholsons’ role on the Tyne Bridge has continued to develop as more than 1,000 repairs must be carried out to preserve the landmark for future generations, which involves numerous steel repairs, as well as the sizeable task of re-painting. Now, Paul and his crew are busy working on some of the similar tasks that his relatives had actioned 40 years ago.
Paul said: “We had been taking some hatches off initially so Esh could see the internal nature of the bridge inside the arches but that has progressed into more work as the project developed. We’re now delivering necessary repairs to steelwork, such as removing and replacing rivets, replacing horizontal and vertical connection plates, replacing structural joints in footways and repairs to horizontal and vertical sway bracing.
“The Tyne Bridge is an iconic structure and to be a local company working on something like this, it’s really a proud moment for us and it’s poignant to be continuing the work. The work our family has actioned previously has come to its natural end of life and it’s now getting actioned again. We’re 40 years on now and for Charlie, he might even be around to do the next round of repairs.”
Charlie added: “I’d love to follow in my dad’s footsteps, I enjoy working for him, I like what we do and I’m not planning on going anywhere.”
Stephen McClean, Construction Manager at Esh Construction said: “It is great to be working with a local fabrication firm with history of previous maintenance schemes on the Tyne Bridge. Their knowledge and expertise have proven vital to the progress to date, from working closely with John and Paul through the Stage 1 investigation works to now on site with Paul and Charlie, three generations of Nicholson’s helping Esh to return this local icon to its former glory.”
The restoration of the Tyne Bridge is being delivered by Esh Construction on behalf of Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council using funding from the UK Government and both councils.
