Low Bridge

HER Number:
6573

District:
Newcastle

Site Name:
Low Bridge

Place:
Newcastle

Map Sheet:
NZ26SE

Class:
Transport

Site Type: Broad:
Road Transport Site

Site Type: Specific:
Road Bridge

General Period:
MEDIEVAL

Specific Period:
Medieval 1066 to 1540

Form of Evidence:
Documentary Evidence

Description:
In the late 14th century a deliberate effort was made to improve east-west communications by the building of a second bridge across the Lort Burn. This was the Low Bridge (Netherdenebrig) which, with its approaches, connected Pilgrim Street with the east end of St Nicholas'. In 1394 the Actons gave the town a plot of land 26 feet long and 8 feet wide by the burn for the bridge, and a second plot 246 feet by 8.5 feet to join it to Pilgrim Street. In 1399 John de Auckland bequeathed 20s towards the work on "la Denebrig" next to the church of St Nicholas. According to Gray, Brand and Horseley, this is where Hadrian's Wall crossed the burn.

Easting:
425070

Northing:
564030

Grid Reference:
NZ425070564030

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
W. Gray, 1649, Chorographia, p 9; J. Brand, 1789, History of Newcastle upon Tyne; J. Horseley, 1732, Britannia Romana; B. Harbottle and P. Clack, 1976, Newcastle upon Tyne: Archaeology and Development, in D.W. Harding (ed), 1976, Archaeology in the North; Grace McCombie, 2009, Newcastle and Gateshead - Pevsner Architectural Guide, p. 150; Barbara Harbottle, 2009, The Medieval Archaeology of Newcastle in Diana Newton and AJ Pollard (eds), 2009, Newcastle and Gateshead before 1700, page 38