[2][3] The narrow bridge lies on the A6 road, and until the opening of the M6 motorway, it was a notorious bottleneck.

It was built in 1425 after the Bishop of Durham, Thomas Langley, offered indulgences to anyone contributing towards its construction, and it was widened in 1875.

The solid parapets include pedestrian refuges above the pillars.

[3] In December 2015, the bridge was declared unsafe and closed to traffic, following severe flooding[4] caused by Storm Frank.

The bridge sustained significant damage, with a one-metre hole reported in a supporting pillar.