Under an 1881 act of Parliament, the bridge was constructed (1882–1887) at a cost of £69,051 by Whitaker Brothers of Leeds,[1][2][3] financed by the local council, a tramway company, North East Railways and the water board,[3] and commemorates the 50th year of the reign of Queen Victoria.

[8] The design is a wrought-iron arch bridge by Charles Neate and consulting engineer Harrison Haytor.

[1] The abutments are faced with granite and sandstone and are filled in with large stone rubble.

[9] The balustrades are cast iron with an open design of interlocking circles, and on the parapets are ornamental cast-iron lampposts carrying modern lights while the spandrels are open cast-iron work with a design of diminishing interlocking circles.

During the second World War a bomb passed through the roadway without exploding[7] and the bridge still bears shrapnel damage from the time.