This photo gallery offers a rare, first-hand look into the construction of the Humber Bridge through the eyes of Harry Stewart, who worked on the massive infrastructure project from 1977 until its official opening by Queen Elizabeth II in 1981. Taking the lift up to the top of the towers, Harry, who is now 88, conquered an initial fear of heights to help spin the massive main cables and secure the hollow concrete towers far above the freezing, windy estuary.
The collection highlights the extraordinary scale, danger, and engineering precision required to build what was then the world’s longest single-span suspension bridge. Images capture delicate, weather-dependent operations like manoeuvring huge steel box sections into place using pusher tugs on the shifting tides, alongside the compacting machinery that bound thousands of thin wires into the bridge’s main suspension cables.
Beyond the engineering feats, these photographs preserve personal memories and the everyday reality of the workforce high above the Humber. Highlights include a memorable moment when Harry took his 12-year-old daughter Michaela to the top of the towers before the bridge opened, as well as glimpses of the tight-knit camaraderie among the crew who braved harsh winter conditions without modern safety harnesses.
Spanning from the early days of high-wire cable spinning to the royal opening ceremony on July 17, 1981, this collection stands as a tribute to the dedicated men who built the iconic landmark. Explore the gallery below to trace Harry Stewart’s journey and see the construction of the Humber Bridge unfold from high above the water.