Sunderland Bridge, County Durham

Sunderland Bridge is a bridge just outside the village also called Sunderland Bridge in County Durham, England. It lies close to the confluence of the River Wear and River Browney.

Sunderland Bridge, County Durham
Coordinates54°44′03″N 1°35′23″W / 54.7341°N 1.58965°W / 54.7341; -1.58965
OS grid referenceNZ 265 378
CarriesWeardale Way Edit this on Wikidata
CrossesRiver Wear Edit this on Wikidata
LocaleSunderland Bridge Edit this on Wikidata
Heritage statusGrade I listed building, scheduled monument Edit this on Wikidata
Next upstreamCroxdale Viaduct Edit this on Wikidata
Next downstreamCroxdale Road Bridge Edit this on Wikidata
Characteristics
Width18 ft (5.5 m) Edit this on Wikidata
No. of spansEdit this on Wikidata
History
Opened14th century Edit this on Wikidata
Location
Map

Sunderland Bridge originally carried the Great North Road (A1) across the River Wear, and probably dates back to the 14th century. It is built of dressed sandstone with four semicircular arches. The bridge has undergone several rebuilds, with the end arches being rebuilt in 1770, the parapets widened in 1822, and new end walls built in the 19th century. It is a Grade I listed structure.[1]

When a new bridge was needed as the existing bridge was not wide enough to cope with traffic, Croxdale Bridge was constructed to the east of the existing bridge. The A1 at this point was later re-designated as the A167, and Croxdale Bridge continues to carry this road.

Sunderland Bridge now carries very little road traffic after Durham County Council closed off the old route of the Great North Road at local request. It allows access to the private Croxdale estate and a sewage works. The bridge also forms part of the Weardale Way long-distance footpath. The bridge straddles the parishes of Brandon and Byshottles and Croxdale and Hett.[1]


Next bridge upstream River Wear Next bridge downstream
Croxdale Viaduct Sunderland Bridge, County Durham
Grid reference NZ 265 378
Croxdale Road Bridge

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Sunderland Bridge, Croxdale And Hett". BritishListedBuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2010.