Framwellgate Bridge, Medieval stone bridge in Durham, England
Framwellgate Bridge is a medieval stone bridge in Durham, England, spanning the River Wear on two shallow arches, each reinforced by seven supporting ribs. It now serves as a pedestrian crossing connecting the city center to the western parts of the town.
The bridge was built after 1400 to replace an older structure that had stood at the same crossing. In its early decades it required rebuilding after flood damage weakened parts of its construction.
Framwellgate Bridge marks the traditional western entry point into Durham's old town, linking the medieval marketplace to the cathedral peninsula. Crossing it today, visitors follow a path that merchants, pilgrims, and residents have used for centuries.
The bridge is open to pedestrians and is easy to reach on foot from the city center. The surface can become slippery in wet weather, especially on the arched sections, so sturdy footwear is a good idea.
Two gatehouses once guarded the entrances of the bridge, and the eastern tower remained in use until around 1760 before being taken down because of growing congestion. Nothing of these towers survives today, even though they stood watch over one of the town's main crossings for centuries.
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