It was located about 1 mile (2 km) upstream of the present Hexham Bridge.

As a result of persistent agitation a bridge was started in 1767 and completed in 1770.

In that flood eight bridges shared the fate of Hexham.

In 1774 a new attempt was made fifty yards to the west by Mr. Wooler, an engineer who had been working on the new Newcastle bridge.

Piles were sunk to carry the piers but work was abandoned on discovering that the "soil beneath the gravel was a quicksand with no more resistance than chaff".