It is an imposing structure, dominating the marketplace and north end of the town.

old days A railway line from Gateshead to Durham through Team Valley was proposed in 1846, and authorised in 1848.

The downfall of "Railway King" George Hudson in 1849 led to its postponement, and work was delayed until 1862 when the North Eastern Railway regained the authority to build the Team Valley line, which required the building of the viaduct.

[1][2] The viaduct was completed in 1868 by Benjamin Carr Lawton, under the control of Thomas Elliot Harrison.

More recently a Tesco superstore was built, and its carpark occupies the space beneath the arches today.