When Bishop Skirlaw built his bridge more than 600 years ago, it would have connected Bishop Auckland with a ‘˜new town' on the cap of the hill opposite, but all signs of that settlement have been erased. Skirlaw Bridge stands in the shadow of Newton Cap viaduct on the northern outskirts of Bishop Auckland. It is largely overlooked by the traffic on the A689 except when strong winds cause the closure of the viaduct, and then the 600-year-old Skirlaw Bridge again becomes the only way of crossing the Wear.
It was built slightly before 1400 by Walter de Skirlaw, Bishop of Durham from 1388 to 1406, probably on the site of earlier bridges. It has two arches: a pointed one 91ft across and a rounded one 101ft wide.
On the western end is a stone inscribed, ‘˜Edwd Palfreys Leep 1744'. Edward Palfreys - or Neddy as he was known crossed the Skirlaw Bridge from Bishop Auckland intent on tackling a bull on the northern side. He was accompanied by a crowd in merry alcohol- engendered spirits, but when they reached the appointed field they found the bull in no mood to fight. Placidly, it would have nothing to do with the drunken fool and his entourage. As an alternative diversion, Neddy determined to show the crowd a few antics upon the parapet of the bridge, but being in such an inebriated state, his sense of balance failed, and he fell 46ft to what the crowd presumed was his inevitable death. Somehow, he survived without a scratch and managed to repeat the feat not once, but twice.
The Skirlaw Bridge is listed Grade I and is a scheduled Ancient Monument. The railway viaduct is listed Grade II. Built in 1856 by T.E. Harrison, it became redundant when the railway to Durham closed in 1968. It is unusual in having a two-way main road laid upon it.
By Road: Visible from the A689 as it crosses the former railway viaduct, located at the end of Bridge Street, on the north west side of Bishops Auckand.
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Forgotten Relics - Listed Bridges and Viaducts
