Elvet Bridge, Medieval stone bridge in Durham, England
Elvet Bridge is a medieval stone bridge in Durham, spanning the River Wear on a series of masonry arches and connecting the city centre peninsula to the Elvet district on the far bank. Buildings are built directly into the structure, most notably number 18 Elvet Bridge, which forms part of the original fabric of the bridge.
The bridge was begun in the 12th century under Bishop Hugh de Puiset, and papal indulgences issued in the 13th century helped fund further work on the structure. In the early 19th century it was widened to handle growing traffic across the river.
The bridge links two very different parts of the city: the old centre on the peninsula and the quieter Elvet district across the river. The buildings that still stand on the bridge give it the feel of a narrow street rather than a simple crossing.
The bridge is open to pedestrians and gives clear views of the River Wear from the middle section, looking towards the riverbanks on both sides. Visiting in daylight makes it easier to take in the stonework and the buildings that sit on the bridge itself.
In the medieval period, chapels stood at both ends of the bridge where travelers could stop to pray before crossing the river. Those chapels are long gone, but their former positions can still be traced when looking at the bridge from the riverbanks.
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