Barnard Castle Bridge

Has been described as a Questionable Fortified Bridge

There are major building remains

NameBarnard Castle Bridge
Alternative Names
Historic CountryDurham
Modern AuthorityDurham
1974 AuthorityCounty Durham
Civil ParishBarnard Castle

Bridge over River Tees, formerly on boundary between the counties of Durham and Yorkshire, with adjoining wall and retaining wall along Bridgegate. Probably C14; repaired in 1596 according to re-set inscription: '1596 ER' said to have come from bridge and now in adjoining south-east wall on approach to Bridgegate. Parapets repaired after 1771 flood. Ashlar. 4 wide ribs to each of 2 pointed arches with 3 offsets flanking pointed cutwater; road-bed rises to highest point over eastern arch. Pedestrian refuges over cutwater, that downstream with inscription Y N R for Yorkshire North Riding, since this was the boundary between the counties until 1974. Squinches at north-west and south-east external corners have been renewed. Retaining wall to river bank below Bridgegate has large, wide, pointed relieving arch, possibly associated with the Castle above . (Austin D: Barnard Castle (English Heritage Official guide book): London: 1988-: 35). (Listed Building Report 1201056)

Road bridge, 1569 repaired 1771. Squared stone. Two segmental-pointed triple-stepped arches, the eastern slightly taller, each on 5 square ribs; triangular cutwaters between carried up as pedestrian refuges; later squinch arches carrying C20 widening of appoach road to south-east and north-west. C18 parapets with slightly-arched coping, stepped out from wall faces above the arches; on inner face of parapet in southern refuge are adjacent blocks with incised C.D. and brass-inset Y marking Durham/North Riding boundary. (Listed Building Report 1121647)

Gatehouse Comments

Included by Bruce Watson in his gazetteer although with note 'No evidence for any gateway'. The road leading to the Bridge from the town is called Bridgegate but, as with many town streets in the former Danelaw this is probably derived from the Danish gata, meaning road rather than the Saxon geat meaning gate.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNZ048163
Latitude54.5427093505859
Longitude-1.92729997634888
Eastings404800
Northings616380
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Guide Books

  • Austin, David, 1988, Barnard Castle (London: English Heritage) p. 35

Other

  • Bruce Watson, 2013 Sept, Gazetteer of fortified bridges (working list kindly shared with Gatehouse)