Name: Piercebridge Roman Bridge
Rating: 5.0

Piercebridge Roman Bridge

Piercebridge, Darlington DL2 3SW, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Piercebridge Roman Bridge The remains at Piercebridge are part of a large bridge that carried a Roman road across the River Tees. They now lie high and dry on the south bank of the river, which has moved northwards since the bridge was built.

Discovered during gravel quarrying in 1972, the bridge provides valuable evidence of the engineering achievements of the Romans. The Roman bridge – which appears to have been the second Roman bridge built here – is one element of a much larger Roman site, which includes a fort, known to have existed from at least the 3rd century AD, and areas of civilian settlement.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

History of Piercebridge Roman Bridge: The remains at Piercebridge are part of a large bridge that carried Dere Street, the Roman road that linked York with Corbridge, near Hadrian’s Wall, across the river Tees. They now lie high and dry on the south bank of the river, which has moved northwards since the bridge was built. Discovered during gravel quarrying in 1972, the bridge provides valuable evidence of the engineering achievements of the Romans. The Roman bridge – which appears to have been the second Roman bridge built here – is one element of a much larger Roman site, which includes a fort, known to have existed from at least the 3rd century AD, and areas of civilian settlement.
Early Roman Piercebridge: The existence of a 1st- or 2nd-century Roman fort has been assumed at Piercebridge because of the importance of the site as the point where Dere Street, the Roman road linking York and Corbridge (near Hadrian’s Wall), crossed the Tees.[1] To date, however, no such fort has been found. What is known from this period is the presence of civilian occupation, particularly close to the line of Dere Street in what is now Tofts Field, to the east of the later fort.
The Later Fort: There is evidence that Roman legionaries were based here in the early 3rd century.[4] A large fort was built to house auxiliary cavalry in about AD 260 and was occupied until the end of the Roman period. If Piercebridge was the place named Morbium (which is far from certain) recorded in the Notitia Dignitatum – a late 4th- or early 5th-century list of officials and army units in the Roman empire – then the unit listed as the equitatus catafractariorum (heavy cavalry) may have been the mid-4th-century garrison. This takes into account the disputed date of the Notitia and the possibility that its garrison lists for Britain may have been out of date.
Dere Street and the Roman Bridges: There is evidence of two Roman bridges at Piercebridge. The first lay on the original line of Dere Street, below Tofts Field and crossing the grounds of the George Hotel (see the downloadable plan). The evidence for this takes the form of timber piles in the river.[8] These probably supported an entirely timber bridge that seems to have gone out of use near the end of the 2nd century. Before the construction of the Cow Green Reservoir in 1967–71 in Upper Teesdale, the Tees was known for its fierce floods, and it may have been one of these that washed the bridge away.
Other Aspects of Piercebridge: A large group of finds recovered near the first Roman bridge by divers suggests that the river had an important religious function. It is possible that the finds represent votive offerings cast from the bridge by travellers, soldiers from the fort and locals.
Later History: The river crossing, located on a key north–south route, remained a focus for occupation through the medieval and post-medieval period on what became known as the Great North Road (now the A1).[20] Excavation of the fort at Piercebridge began in 1934, and from the late 1960s onwards a series of excavations transformed knowledge of not only the fort but also the surrounding settlement and the stone bridge, which was discovered during gravel quarrying in 1972.

Facilities

Parking: There is free parking available in the car park of the nearby George Hotel (not managed by English Heritage). Please be aware the car park is currently badly degraded with potholes.
Food & Drinks: The George Hotel and the farm shop and café at Piercebridge Organics both offer food and drink.
Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open any reasonable time during daylight hours.

Address: Piercebridge, Darlington DL2 3SW, UK

Post Code: DL2 3SW

Council: North Yorkshire

County: North Yorkshire

Road Access: At Piercebridge; 4 miles west of Darlington, on B6275.
Bus Access: Arriva 75, 76.
Train Access: Darlington 5 miles.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Parking: There is free parking available in the car park of the nearby George Hotel (not managed by English Heritage). Please be aware the car park is currently badly degraded with potholes.