Sunderland Bridge, County Durham

Not to be confused with Wearmouth Bridge, the principal road bridge across the River Wear in the city of Sunderland.

Sunderland Bridge

Sunderland Bridge is both a bridge and a village in County Durham, England, about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Durham City. Both lie close to the confluence of the River Wear and River Browney.

The village

The village forms part of the civil parish of Croxdale and Hett, within the unitary district of County Durham. Local government responsibilities are shared between parish and district councils.

The bridge

Sunderland Bridge originally carried the Great North Road (A1) across the River Wear, and probably dates back to the 14th century. It is built of dressed sandstone with four semicircular arches. The bridge has undergone several rebuilds, with the end arches being rebuilt in 1770, the parapets widened in 1822, and new end walls built in the 19th century. It is a grade I listed structure.^[1]

When a new bridge was needed as the existing bridge was not wide enough to cope with traffic, Croxdale Bridge was constructed to the east of the existing bridge. The A1 at this point was later re-designated as the A167, and Croxdale Bridge continues to carry this road.

Sunderland Bridge now carries very little road traffic after Durham County Council closed off the old route of the Great North Road at local request. It allows access to the private Croxdale estate and a sewage works. The bridge also forms part of the Weardale Way long distance footpath. The bridge straddles the parishes of Brandon and Byshottles and Croxdale and Hett.^[1]

References

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Coordinates: 54°44′N 1°35′W / 54.733°N 1.583°W / 54.733; -1.583