Prebends Bridge

Prebends Bridge from upstream

Prebends Bridge, along with Framwellgate and Elvet, is one of three stone-arch bridges in the centre of Durham, England, that cross the River Wear.

History

Prebends Bridge was designed by George Nicholson^[1] and built from 1772 to 1778. It replaced a temporary bridge built after the footbridge, built in 1574, was swept away during a flood in 1771.^[2] Forming part of the estate of Durham Cathedral, the bridge is a Grade 1 listed building and is situated below the Watergate at the end of South Bailey (with which it is in concurrence), just after St Cuthbert's Society. Although the bridge is wide enough for vehicles, it is mainly used as a footbridge as it only leads to the Riverside paths and up to a closed road barrier to South Bailey. The bridge was restored from 1955 to 1956.

In autumn 2010 the bridge was temporarily reopened to road traffic under 3 tonnes while Saddler Street was closed because of extensive repaving works as part of the Heart of the City project, sponsored by Durham City Vision.^[3]

Plaque

Prebends Bridge has a plaque to display Sir Walter Scott's words about Durham:^[4]

Grey towers of Durham
Yet well I love thy mixed and massive piles
Half church of God, half castle ‘gainst the Scot
And long to roam these venerable aisles
With records stored of deeds long since forgot

• 

  Inscription of Scott's words

• 

  Durham School Boat Club's boat house as seen from the bridge

• 

  From downstream

• 

  View from the north, note the lay-by (originally used as a meeting place for wide vehicular traffic) on the left.

• 

  A pedestrian crosses Prebends Bridge in winter

References

1. Prebends Bridge at Structurae
2. "The city of Durham - Rivers, bridges and mills | A History of the County of Durham: Volume 3 (pp. 62-64)". British-history.ac.uk. 22 June 2003. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
3. "Durhamcityvision.com". Durhamcityvision.com. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
4. "Three Rivers Cycleway - Bridges - River Wear". Cycle-routes.org. Retrieved 26 February 2013.

External links

• Durham City Tourism

Coordinates: 54°46′16″N 1°34′46″W / 54.77099°N 1.57935°W