Quaking Bridge

Quaking Bridge is a pedestrian crossing in Oxford that spans Castle Mill Stream and connects St Thomas Street, Paradise Street, and Tidmarsh Lane. The iron structure forms a narrow passage through a densely built historic quarter of the city center.

The first written record of this crossing dates to 1297, when it served as a link between Oxford and St Thomas's parish. In 1835 the original wooden three-arch structure was replaced with the iron framework that still stands today.

The name reflects the daily crossings made by monks from Oseney Abbey who walked this path to reach St George's Chapel within the castle grounds. The cobbled surfaces and narrow passages around the bridge still show signs of this well-traveled route that shaped local movement for centuries.

The crossing is narrow and can feel crowded during busy hours, so visiting at quieter times makes for easier passage. The approaches on both sides are limited to city sidewalks, making it challenging to navigate with large bags or equipment.

Despite its name, the bridge does not actually shake; the name comes from a time when the stream below had more dramatic water level changes. This naming reveals how the local environment once behaved very differently from today.