This　paper　proposes　a　novel　self-centring　friction　rope　device　(Sc-FRD)　for　improving　the　seismic　isolation　and　recentring　effect　of　continuous　bridges.　The　Sc-FRD　is　designed　to　provide　energy　dissipation　and　re-centring　functions　and　works　in　conjunction　with　typical　sliding　bearings　to　separate　vertical　support.　The　Sc-FRD　isolated　system　allows　function　separation,　with　sliding　bearings　supporting　vertical　loads,　friction　rope　dampers　(FRDs)　dissipating　seismic　energy,　and　self-centring　springs　providing　re-centring　forces.　Firstly,　a　constitutive　model　of　the　Sc-FRD　was　developed　by　theoretical　analysis,　and　the　mechanical　properties　of　the　FRD　were　studied　through　quasi-static　testing.　Then,　a　1/30-scale,　three-span　continuous　bridge　model　was　constructed　and　tested　on　the　shake　table　to　investigate　the　seismic　performance　of　the　Sc-FRD　isolated　system.　Finally,　the　software　ANSYS　was　employed　for　an　effective　simulation　of　the　shake-table　test.　The　test　results　showed　that　the　Sc-FRD　isolated　system　performed　well　in　seismic　isolation　and　energy　dissipation.　It　could　effectively　reduce　the　fixed　pier＇s　earthquake　responses　and　restrain　the　isolator＇s　residual　displacements　within　an　acceptable　range.　Furthermore,　the　Sc-FRD＇s　main　parameters　and　ground　motion　characteristics　greatly　influenced　the　residual　displacement　of　the　bridge　isolation　system,　with　the　coda　stage　of　ground　motions　playing　a　critical　role　in　the　superstructure＇s　re-centring.