It is a pedestrian bridge linking St Ebbes to the Grandpont nature reserve.

The bridge was constructed by the Oxford & District Gas Company in 1886[2] for a short railway branch line to carry coal to the gas works from the main Cherwell Valley Line at a junction just south of Osney Rail Bridge.

The bridge was built by assembling sections on the south bank of the river and floating them into position.

The gas works was demolished in 1960; no evidence of the railway line is visible on the footbridge.

Since the demolition of the gas works, other names have been used for the bridge.