Elvet Bridge, Durham

Elvet Bridge is a medieval stone bridge crossing the River Wear in the centre of Durham, connecting the city's Market Place with the Elvet quarter. It was originally built by Bishop Hugh du Puiset in the late 12th century as one of the two bridges that gave access to the fortified peninsula on which the cathedral and castle stand.

The bridge has been repaired and widened many times, most notably in the 15th and 19th centuries, and today shows a mix of medieval and later masonry. Small buildings and shops were once built directly onto the bridge, and remnants of chapels dedicated to St Andrew and St James survive at each end, incorporated into later structures. Below the main deck an undercroft has served over the centuries as a prison, workshops and now a bar.

Elvet Bridge is pedestrianised and offers one of the classic Durham views, looking upriver towards the wooded banks below the cathedral. Rowing boats and the Prince Bishop river cruiser pass beneath it, and the surrounding streets are full of cafes and pubs.