# Prebends Bridge > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Prebends_Bridge > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Prebends_Bridge.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prebends_Bridge > Source revision: 1313114733 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} {{Use British English|date=November 2017}} {{Infobox bridge | name = Prebends Bridge | image = Prebends Bridge, Durham in Winter, December 2012.jpg | image_upright = | alt = | caption = Prebends Bridge from upstream | coordinates = {{coord|54.7709|-1.5794|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline}} | os_grid_reference = NZ271418 | carries = Pedestrians | crosses = [River Wear](/source/River_Wear) | locale = [County Durham](/source/County_Durham) | named_for = | owner = [Durham Cathedral](/source/Durham_Cathedral) | maint = | heritage = [Grade I listed](/source/Grade_I_listed) | id = | id_type = | website = | preceded = [Kingsgate Bridge](/source/Kingsgate_Bridge) | followed = [Framwellgate Bridge](/source/Framwellgate_Bridge) | design = Semi-circular [arch bridge](/source/arch_bridge) | material = Stone | length = | width = | height = | depth = | traversable = | towpath = | mainspan = | number_spans = 3 | piers_in_water = | load = | clearance_above = | clearance_below = | lanes = | life = | architect = | designer = George Nicholson | contracted_designer = | engineering = | builder = | begin = 1772 | complete = 1778 | cost = | open = | inaugurated = | rebuilt = | replaces = | extra = }} '''Prebends Bridge''', along with [Framwellgate](/source/Framwellgate_Bridge) and [Elvet](/source/Elvet_Bridge) bridges, is one of three stone-[arch bridge](/source/arch_bridge)s in the centre of [Durham](/source/Durham%2C_England), [England](/source/England), that cross the [River Wear](/source/River_Wear). The bridge forms part of the [Durham Castle and Cathedral](/source/Durham_Castle_and_Cathedral) [UNESCO](/source/UNESCO) [World Heritage Site](/source/World_Heritage_Site). ==History== Prebends Bridge was designed by George Nicholson{{Structurae|id=20003229|title=Prebends Bridge}} and built from 1772 to 1778. The bridge was built on the instructions of the Dean of Durham and served as a private road for the Dean and Chapter of Durham, giving access from the south through the Watergate.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/topdrawings/d/005add000015538u00127000.html|title=Durham, Prebends Bridge|last=Wright|first=Colin|website=www.bl.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-12-25}} It replaced a temporary bridge built after the footbridge, built in 1574, was swept away during a [flood in 1771](/source/Great_Flood_of_1771).{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42606 |title=The city of Durham - Rivers, bridges and mills | A History of the County of Durham: Volume 3 (pp. 62-64) |publisher=British-history.ac.uk |date=22 June 2003 |accessdate=26 February 2013}} The bridge is situated below the Watergate at the end of South Bailey (with which it is in concurrence), just after [St Cuthbert's Society](/source/St_Cuthbert's_Society). Although the bridge is wide enough for vehicles, it is mainly used as a footbridge as it only leads to the Riverside paths and up to a closed road barrier to South Bailey. The bridge was restored from 1955 to 1956. In autumn 2010 the bridge was temporarily reopened to road traffic under 3 tonnes while Saddler Street was closed because of extensive repaving works as part of the Heart of the City project, sponsored by Durham City Vision.{{cite web|url=http://www.durhamcityvision.com/projects/item/heart-of-the-city |title=Durhamcityvision.com |publisher=Durhamcityvision.com |date= |accessdate=26 February 2013}} The current bridge affords an excellent view of the cathedral and was built specifically with aesthetic considerations in mind - it was built slightly north of the prior bridge, at a wider part of the river, to improve the views available.{{Cite web|url=https://www.durhamworldheritagesite.com/architecture/historic-bridges|title=Historic Bridges - Durham World Heritage Site|website=www.durhamworldheritagesite.com|language=en|access-date=2017-12-25}} Trees were planted along the riverbank to complete the Romantic picture. Part of the estate of [Durham Cathedral](/source/Durham_Cathedral), the bridge is a Grade I [listed building](/source/listed_building) and is included in the [Durham Castle and Cathedral](/source/Durham_Castle_and_Cathedral) [UNESCO](/source/UNESCO) [World Heritage Site](/source/World_Heritage_Site).{{Cite web|url=https://www.durhamworldheritagesite.com/learn/architecture|title=Architecture|publisher=Durham World Heritage Site|website=www.durhamworldheritagesite.com|access-date=23 June 2025}} ==Plaque== Prebends Bridge has a plaque to display Sir [Walter Scott](/source/Walter_Scott)'s words about Durham:{{cite web|url=http://www.cycle-routes.org/threerivers/3r_bridges/wear_bridges2.html |title=Three Rivers Cycleway - Bridges - River Wear |publisher=Cycle-routes.org |date= |accessdate=26 February 2013}} {{quote box|width=25em|bgcolor=c6dbf7|align=center|quote= '''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|source=–Extract from ''[Harold the Dauntless](/source/Harold_the_Dauntless)'', by Scott, published anonymously in 1817{{Cite web|url=https://co-curate.ncl.ac.uk/resources/view/101654/|title=Sir Walter Scott in Durham|publisher=[Newcastle University](/source/Newcastle_University)|access-date=23 June 2025}}}} ==Gallery== File:Scott inscription (Prebends Bridge).jpg|Inscription of Scott's words File:Durham School Boat Club - boat house summer.jpg|alt=A picture of Durham School Boat Club's boat house in summer, taken from Prebends Bridge|[Durham School Boat Club](/source/Durham_School_Boat_Club)'s boat house as seen from the bridge File:Prebends and weir.JPG|From downstream File:Prebends bridge layby 2013 January.jpg|View from the north, note the [lay-by](/source/lay-by) (originally used as a meeting place for wide vehicular traffic) on the left. File:Prebends Bridge crossing 2013 January.jpg|A pedestrian crosses Prebends Bridge in winter File:Prebends Cathedral View.jpg|View of the Cathedral Towers from the western side of the bridge File:Prebends south view.jpg|View from the bridge facing during summertime {{River item box |River = [River Wear](/source/River_Wear) |upstream = [Kingsgate Bridge](/source/Kingsgate_Bridge) |downstream = [Framwellgate Bridge](/source/Framwellgate_Bridge) |type = bridge |thisis = |upsub = |downsub = |location = }} == References == {{reflist}} == External links == *[http://www.durhamtourism.co.uk/att_bridge.html Durham City Tourism] 54.771, -1.5793 Category:Bridges across the River Wear Category:Bridges completed in 1778 Category:Bridges in County Durham Category:Buildings and structures in Durham, England Category:Grade I listed bridges in England Durham, Prebends --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Prebends Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prebends_Bridge) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prebends_Bridge?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.