Rochdale Bridge, at the junction of The Esplanade, Yorkshire Street, The Butts, South Parade, Rochdale

The Rochdale Bridge, at the junction of The Esplanade, Yorkshire Street, The Butts, and South Parade, is a road bridge dating back to the medieval period, with significant later alterations. In 1667, an extension was added to the east side, followed by 18th-century extensions to both sides, completed by 1787. A further east extension was built in 1821. More recently, between 2015 and 2016, the bridge underwent restoration, including new parapets, and repairs to the outer walls following the removal of extensions added in 1996 (which themselves replaced late 19th-century extensions) and early 20th-century Hennebique-type platforms on each side.

The bridge is constructed of sandstone and carries the road over the River Roch. The structure is wider at the south end, with a straight outer spandrel wall on the west side and a curved spandrel wall to the east.

The original medieval bridge features two circular outer arches and a four-centred pointed central arch set on a projecting plinth. Later extensions on either side largely obscure the arches, except for the barrels and the bottom portion of the voussoirs, which project below the 18th-century bridge to the west. The arches are built of well-dressed sandstone blocks, with the southern arch using smaller stone blocks. The central arch has ashlar-faced voussoirs.

The 1667 extension abuts the east side of the medieval bridge, narrowing towards the south and featuring two circular outer arches and a similar four-centred pointed central arch, constructed of well-dressed sandstone blocks.

The 18th-century widening of the bridge includes extensions to both sides. The west bridge abuts the west side of the medieval bridge and features three circular arches separated by wide pilasters with cutwaters; the smaller northern arch is partially obscured by a modern walkway and retaining wall. The bridge is constructed of well-dressed sandstone blocks with dentillated voussoirs. The outer spandrel wall retains original stonework and voussoirs to the lower portion, while the cutwaters, pilasters, upper spandrel wall, and parapet are modern stonework associated with the 2015-2016 restoration.

The east bridge abuts the east side of the 1667 extension; it tapers, widening to the south, and features three circular arches. Its outer spandrel wall is obscured by the 1821 extension.

The 1821 extension abuts the east side of the 18th-century east bridge and incorporates a curved outer spandrel wall with three flattened segmental arches, diminishing in size towards the northern side. It is built of rock-faced sandstone with stepped voussoirs and a shaped cutwater between the central and southern arch. The upper part of the outer spandrel wall is modern rock-faced stonework with smoother dressed stone blocks forming a new parapet wall, completed in 2015 to 2016.