Winston Bridge and the Spitfire Flight Over Teesdale

Sir Thomas Robinson and the Great Stone Arch

The bridge was designed by Sir Thomas Robinson of nearby Rokeby Park.

Its enormous single stone arch stretched around 111 feet across the River Tees, making it one of the largest masonry bridge spans in Britain at the time. Some historic accounts even claimed it was among the widest single-span stone bridges in Europe when completed.

The bridge rises dramatically above the river below, carrying the road across a deep wooded section of the Tees. Even today it still feels impressive when viewed from beneath, especially from the riverbanks downstream where the full height of the arch becomes visible.

Historical descriptions from travellers passing through Teesdale in the 1800s often mentioned the beauty of the scenery around Winston and Ovington, with wooded riverbanks, steep cliffs and peaceful views over the Tees.

One 19th century guidebook described crossing “a handsome stone bridge” before climbing into Winston village, praising the quiet scenery and churchyard views above the river.

The Great Flood of 1771

One of the most important moments in the bridge’s history came during the Great Flood of 1771.

This catastrophic flood destroyed many bridges across northern England, including several crossings over the River Tees. Winston Bridge, however, survived.

Its survival helped cement its reputation as an engineering achievement of the period and remains one of the reasons the bridge is still historically important today.

The Spitfire Flight Beneath Winston Bridge

In July 1988, Winston Bridge suddenly found itself at the centre of an extraordinary moment in television history.

The bridge was selected as a filming location for the ITV drama series A Piece of Cake, based on Derek Robinson’s novel about RAF fighter pilots during the early years of the Second World War.

Former RAF pilot Ray Hanna flew a real Spitfire beneath the bridge as part of the production.

For a short time, this quiet corner of Teesdale was transformed into wartime France. Film crews gathered along the riverbanks and roadsides while local residents watched as the aircraft roared low above the River Tees before passing directly beneath the great stone arch.

Reports from the time describe television crews surveying bridges across Europe before eventually selecting Winston because of the sheer width of its single arch. Trees beside the river reportedly had to be cut back to give the pilot a clearer run beneath the bridge.

The stunt quickly became one of the most talked-about moments ever filmed in Teesdale.

Another nearby bridge at Whorlton was also reportedly considered during location scouting before Winston was chosen.

A moment remembered locally

For residents of Winston and the surrounding area, the day left a lasting impression. A quiet riverside setting, normally defined by flowing water and passing traffic, had briefly echoed to the sound of a Merlin engine as a Second World War fighter skimmed the river beneath a Georgian stone arch.

More than three decades later, the story is still talked about locally, and Winston Bridge is often referred to as the “Spitfire Bridge” by those who know its history.

A Place to Pause

Today, most people simply drive across Winston Bridge without ever stopping to think about the history beneath them.

Yet this quiet crossing above the River Tees has carried centuries of stories. Travellers once paid tolls here before continuing along the old turnpike road. The bridge survived the Great Flood of 1771. Then more than two hundred years later, a Spitfire roared beneath the same stone arch in one of Teesdale’s most unforgettable moments.

Stand here for a while and the bridge feels different. The river still moves below exactly as it always has, flowing beneath the same huge arch that generations before us once crossed on foot, by horse and cart, and later by car.

Places like this are easy to pass through.
But much harder to forget once you know their story.