Derby's original Exeter Bridge started life as a timber footbridge built by the Binghams of Exeter House, in order to access their gardens on the other side of the River Derwent.

[1] Exeter House was eventually demolished because of cost and to allow improvements to the bridge to be made.

[2] The old Exeter Bridge was demolished in 1929 and replaced by a single-span concrete bridge designed by Charles Herbert Aslin of the City Architect's Department, who was also responsible for Derby's now demolished Art Deco-style bus station.

During construction a test was carried out to see if it would hold the weight of the traffic.

It was officially opened by the minister of transport, Herbert Morrison on 13 March 1931.