Framwellgate Bridge

Framwellgate Bridge is a medieval stone structure that spans the River Wear with two shallow arches reinforced by seven supporting ribs. It serves today as a pedestrian pathway connecting Durham's city center to the western districts.

The bridge was built after 1400 to replace an earlier medieval structure. It required reconstruction following flood damage in its early decades.

The bridge marks the traditional western entrance to Durham, connecting the medieval marketplace with the peninsula containing Durham Cathedral and Castle.

The bridge is open to pedestrians and offers a direct route between the city center and western areas. Visitors should note that the surface can become slippery in wet conditions, particularly on the arched sections.

Two separate gatehouses once guarded the bridge's entrances, with the eastern tower remaining active until its removal around 1760. Its demolition happened because the structure was becoming too congested for the traffic of that era.

Location: City of Durham

GPS coordinates: 54.77610,-1.57797

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:04