However, within a few years of its construction, the railway to Richmond was built, which effectively took the coal trade away from the road through Stapleton and over the bridge.

[9] The parapet is long and sweeps out at the riverbank edges with octagonal piers,[10] and the whole masonry bridge is ashlar, using stone from Gatherley Moor Quarry.

[13][14] Due to the shifting nature of the riverbed, the pillars were set into bales of wool, which was the solution at the time to the possibility of moving foundations.

The cottage is still there and is now a private residence, however, tolls on the road and bridge were abolished in 1879, and the tollhouse has been altered from the original design.

[20] The bridge used to carry a turnpike road from Scotch Corner through Newton Morrell and into Darlington built in 1832.