Jock's Bridge

Road Bridge, C18; the east elevation was partially rebuilt in the early C19.

MATERIALS: coursed rubble with ashlar arch and dressings.

PLAN: a single-span bridge with abutments and short causeways to either end.

DESCRIPTION: the bridge carries a minor road from Bishop Auckland to Binchester across the River Gaunless immediately before the latter’s confluence with the River Wear. The single elliptical arch to both elevations has long, thin dressed voussoirs surmounted by a narrow archivolt, with raised keystones. The western (downstream) elevation has a ramped, humpbacked string course and parapet in keeping with the slight rise in road level towards the centre of the bridge; the string course and parapet on the eastern (upstream) elevation are both horizontal. Both parapets have V-shaped copings, but that on the west runs between square end pillars (with flat-topped caps) that rise as pilasters through the causeways; short wing walls beyond the pillars are lower and have rounded copings. The taller eastern parapet is also horizontal and has slightly smaller stonework. The keystone in the eastern elevation (only visible from within the Park) bears the inscription ‘SD | 1819’ (SD standing for Shute Dunelm, or Bishop Shute Barrington of Durham). Both bridge abutments are plain, and continue as short causeways at either end.