[Symbol of Durham Cathedral]
DURHAM CATHEDRAL
THE SHRINE OF ST CUTHBERT

Prebends’ Bridge

You are standing on the footings of the original Prebends Bridge, which was built here in 1574, leading to the Durham peninsula. It was a timber footbridge, built on stone piers, which was swept away in a flood in 1771, known as the Great Flood. Previously the river had been crossed using a ferry or a ford.

The bridge you can see ahead is the existing Prebends’ Bridge. It was designed and built between 1772 and 1778 by George Nicholson. Its location, a little further downstream than the earlier bridge, was part of the planned 18th-century romantic landscape.

Its unusual name comes from the title of Prebendary, an honorary title awarded to senior parish priests for long and dedicated service within a diocese. In 1798, the Cathedral clergy offered a reward of 50 guineas for information leading to a conviction of person or persons who did pull down, break and destroy a whole range of bannisters together with battlement on the new bridge’. The bridge is now closed to general traffic though it is still used for emergency access and it is part of the National Cycle Network.

JMW Turner came here in 1817 and painted several works, including the one shown here, now in the National Gallery of Scotland. Sir Walter Scott, another famous visitor, said "when you cross the Wear by the Prebends Bridge and, ascending through its beautiful skirt of wood, plant yourself on the hill opposite the Cathedral, the view of the Cathedral and Castle together is superb; even Oxford has no view to compare with it." His romantic verse as follows is inscribed on a plaque on the bridge:

"Grey towers of Durham
Yet well I love thy mixed and massive piles
Half church of God, half castle ’gainst the Scot
And long to roam these venerable aisles
With records stored of deeds long since forgot"

Durham Cathedral - part of the UNESCO Durham World Heritage

[Images - it is difficult to recognize the writing]:
1. Durham Cathedral
2. A view of the CORN MILL
3. Sir Walter Scott

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The (new) bridge was photographed on the same day by the same photographer Click for a larger image

On the (new) bridge is a sign that is also on the site Click for sign's details