The engineering legacy of the Tamar Estuary’s historic bridges will be celebrated by a new Learning Centre currently being built at the Tamar Bridge, which is due to open in Spring 2019.

The ‘Bridging the Tamar’ project has been able to happen as a result of The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee receiving a grant of £272,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to interpret the heritage of both the Royal Albert Bridge and the Tamar Bridge.

This award follows a successful development phase which was also supported by a National Lottery grant from the HLF of £37,000. This latest grant forms 75% of the cost of the implementation of the project, the remainder being funded by the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee.

The Learning Centre will explore the engineering brilliance of both the 20th century road bridge (the country’s longest at the time of its construction) and Brunel’s iconic 19th century Royal Albert Bridge.

An interactive exhibition space and a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) learning and events programme will bring the heritage of the iconic bridges to life.

The programme will be developed with local partners including The Box, schools, universities and community organisations.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to find out more about how operators manage and monitor the road bridge, the Saltash Tunnel and the tolling system in order to keep traffic moving smoothly and provide safe, reliable and efficient crossings of the river.

Volunteers will be sought to assist with the project and roles will include volunteer guide, learning assistant and researcher. Recruitment will be undertaken in Autumn 2018 with the aim of training volunteers in Spring 2019.

This page will be updated in the next few months with information about the volunteer opportunities and how to apply.

For more information about the project or to get involved please contact the Community Learning Volunteering Officer at mary.olszewska@tamarcrossings.org.uk