[4] The main thoroughfare through the town of Yarm was historically West Street, which at the River Tees led to a ford.

[6][1] In 1400, Walter Skirlaw, Bishop of Durham, ordered a replacement road bridge in stone.

[6] During the English Civil War the northmost arch of the bridge was destroyed and was replaced by a draw bridge, to prevent parliamentary forces from attacking the controlling royalists.

Despite escaping the flood without damage, the small size of bridges span meant that the flow was unable to pass beneath and instead serious damage was caused to the town, with every house being underwater.

[9] Unfortunately, at the beginning of the next year, the completed but unopened structure collapsed, and the stone bridge was instead doubled in width.