How Darlington's Cleveland Bridge went from global icon to empty shell

With no last-minute rescue, no heroes to step in where others feared to tread, the huge Yarm Road factory would be emptied, the workers who had been kept on to finish the final contracts would hand in their passes and hi-vis jackets and walk through the red gates which would clang shut behind them for the last time.

Read more: Every step of the demise of Darlington's Cleveland Bridge

From outside, the factory had looked impenetrable, a global force in bridge-building since 1877, playing a huge part in the construction of dozens of well-known bridges across the UK, and the world, from designing the Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough to the Sydney Harbour Bridge - designed and built by Dorman Long Co Ltd, which later merged with Cleveland Bridge, before it was opened in 1932.

If a bridge needed to be built, Cleveland Bridge was always at the top of your list - the experience and skills were unmatched.

Picture: NORTHERN ECHO (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

But inside there were rumours and canteen conversations between disgruntled workers who had seen some of the bids going in from MD Chris Droogan  which seemed too good to be true. People I spoke to off the record - the source of many of the headlines The Northern Echo was able to bring to worried and angry families - said the company had panicked in an increasingly competitive market and undercut rival bids by so much that they were pretty much undeliverable.

That meant the finances started to be a concern as the gap between cost and profit started to get narrower and 'how much longer can this go on?' became a regular question.

The reputation of the company started to be affected as well, as rival bidders saw contracts being won by crazy prices and then being hit by delivery challenges.

The rust had started to eat into the structure.

As the crisis grew and adminstrators FRP moved in to help unravel it all and find a new owner, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, working alongside MPs Paul Howell and Peter Gibson, and council leader Heather Scott, had a seat at the table as negotiations began.

MP Paul Howell heading for the Cleveland Bridge talks

There was plenty of initial interest - the brand and the highly visible products meant a lot. But gradually they fell away as FRP looked for cast-iron promises and only heard short term wishlists

Rather like someone liking the look of a car on Autotrader, but walking away when they looked under the bonnet, Cleveland Bridge did not stand up to close inspection and FRP, Houchen, Howell and Gibson saw that the writing was on the wall and would soon be on letters to shattered and emotional workers.

"With no current viable offers remaining to take the business on, we must now prepare for a property and asset sale. Regrettably, production will finally end on site later this month."

Feelings ran high as they left their meetings and tried to think of the right words for the phone calls home and the kitchen table conversations with their families who had trusted the company as the right place to build a long-term career.

This was - still is - a true tragedy of betrayal and broken dreams in a region surrounded by so much hope and forward planning.

The last load leaves Cleveland Bridge (Image: Newsquest)

Now www.clevelandbridge.com isn't available and the last Twitter post, describing itself as 'a Global Leader in Technology Based Engineering, Construction and Steel Fabrication Services' was in July last year, told the world: "Collaboration is at the heart of every #CBUK project, and we work closely with our partners every step of the way."

Houchen told us: “The closure of Cleveland Bridge was obviously devastating for the hundreds of workers who lost their jobs and it was truly heart-breaking to witness a once proud company that helped build the world be brought to its knees through mismanagement and indifference.

“Despite the best efforts of a whole range of politicians, business leaders and others spanning months, it’s incredibly sad that it ultimately could not be saved. I know first-hand the blood, sweat and tears poured into our numerous talks trying to reach a solution or find a buyer.

“One year on, it’s very encouraging that a developer has bought the site and is looking to transform it into an industrial park so it doesn’t lay vacant, but this is just one piece of the puzzle. While the business may be gone, the talented workforce it employed remains, with the skills to take advantage of the thousands of good-quality, well-paid jobs we’re creating across the region.”

MP Peter Gibson said:  “Very sadly it was not possible to save the company at the time due to years of under investment by oversea owners and poor management in its latter years.  This in no way shape or form reflects on the hard work and skills of the workforce that made Cleveland Bridge the internationally renowned company that it was.

“The legacy of Cleveland Bridge lives on in the skylines of cities around the world and will continue to do so into the future from the arch of Wembley Arena to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

“I am pleased to have been able to be involved in the steps taken to secure the preservation and retention of the war memorial plaques dedicated to those that lost their lives, in addition to saving the bridge sculpture which will be put on display at the Cleveland Sports Club, in tribute to the workers of Cleveland, leaving a lasting legacy and permanent memorial in the town.”

Councillor Jonathan Dulston, Leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “As a council, we fought hard against the loss of Cleveland Bridge and have put in place practical support to help people affected by its closure, for example holding a jobs fair and providing ongoing help with job applications.

“The iconic red bridge sculpture that stood at the entrance to the factory has also been preserved by the council for posterity, and now has pride of place at Cleveland Bridge Social Club, in Neasham Road, along with memorial plaques to those Cleveland Bridge employees lost in the wars.

“Cleveland Bridge has a special place in the story of Darlington and that will never change.”

But this is a warning as well. The finest blueprints for success can be drawn up by the most confident MDs, but markets shift, competition and pressure grows and characters start to crack. Any support - if it is sought - has to be backed up by a finely detailed understanding of every corner of the business to know where the weaknesses might be.

And even then the girders that supported so much can start to give way under the increasing weight.

We must never presume the worst in every situation - we're just not built like that. But hundreds of highly skilled Cleveland Bridge workers have had to learn to trust again and we each have a part to play in building a region where that becomes possible - and then expected - for every new blueprint and confident MD.

Read next:

• Jobs threat as Darlington's Cleveland Bridge 'calls in administrators'
• Cleveland Bridge MD leaves his job
• Cleveland Bridge closure confirmed as rescue hopes crash