Like Elvet Bridge Framwellgate Bridge had to be repaired in the early 15th century due to flood damage, and for a time the crossing point was maintained by a ferry boat. The bridge that has stood to the present day was built on the orders of Bishop Langley (1406–37) and widened in the early 19th century. Some sources indicate that both ends of bridge were fortified by towers and gates, though others infer only a single gatehouse was built on the peninsula side of the river. In any case, the defensive structures were demolished in 1760. The bridge has several spans, the longest of which is 6-10m long. In the 14th Century, the bridge was the scene of the murder of Bishop's Steward Richard Fitzmarmaduke by his cousin Ralph Neville (the 'Peacock of the North').
Until the construction of Millburngate Bridge in 1969, the bridge was the main traffic route through the centre of Durham. Today the bridge is mainly pedestrianised, and only occasional service vehicles may use the bridge.
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Last updated on Friday July 04, 2008 at 15:00:22 PDT (GMT -0700)
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