River Wear
The river flows past Durham Castle and Cathedral, beneath Framwellgate Bridge and over a weir. Durham Castle is a Norman Castle in the city of Durham, England, which has been wholly occupied since 1840 by University College Durham The Cathedral Church of Christ Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, commonly referred to as Durham Cathedral, in the city of Durham, England
Origin	Wearhead, County Durham
Mouth	Sunderland
Length	96 km (60 miles)

The River Wear (pronounced /wɪɚ/("wee-er")) is a river in North East England, rising in the Pennines and flowing eastwards, mostly through County Durham, to the North Sea at Sunderland. Wearhead is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated at the top of Weardale between Cowshill and Ireshopeburn. Sunderland (, or /ˈsʌn(dlən/ is a City in Tyne and Wear, England. North-East England is one of the nine official Regions of England and comprises the combined area of Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear The Pennines are a low-rising Mountain range in Northern England and southern Scotland. The North Sea is a marginal, Epeiric sea of the Atlantic Ocean on the European Continental shelf. Sunderland (, or /ˈsʌn(dlən/ is a City in Tyne and Wear, England.

Geology and History

The Wear rises in the east Pennines, an upland area raised up during the Caledonian orogeny. The Caledonian orogeny is a mountain building event recorded in the Mountains and Hills of northern Scotland, Ireland, England, Specifically, the Weardale Granite underlies the headwaters of the Wear. Devonian Old Red Sandstone in age, the Weardale Granite does not outcrop, but was initially surmised, and subsequently proved, as a result of the Rookhope borehole. The Old Red Sandstone is a Rock formation of considerable importance to early Paleontology. ^[1] It is the presence of this granite that has both retained the upland nature of this area (less through its relative hardness, and more due to isostatic equilibrium), and accounts for heavy local mineralisation, although it is considered that most of the mineralisation occurred during the Carboniferous period. Mining of lead ore has been known in the area of the headwaters of the Wear since Roman times, and continued into the nineteenth century when it accounts for the early extension of the then-new railways westwards along the Wear valley. Wear Valley is a local government district in County Durham, England. Fluorspar, another mineral associated with the intrusion of the Weardale Granite, became important in the manufacture of steel from the late c19 into the c20; previously unwanted dumps of it were taken away for this purpose. Fluorite (also called fluorspar) is a Mineral composed of Calcium fluoride, Ca[[Fluorine F2]] Along with overlying Carboniferous Limestone and Carboniferous Coal Measures, both important raw materials for iron and steel manufacture, as well as Carboniferous sandstone, useful as a refractory material, the local presence of fluorspar explains why iron and steel manufacture flourished in the Wear valley, Consett and Teesside during the nineteenth century; ironstone was won from around Consett and Tow Law, then around Rookhope, while greater quantities were imported from south of the Tees. Carboniferous Limestone is a type of Limestone rock, which was laid down in Great Britain and Ireland in the Dinantian stage The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian period about 359 The Coal Measures is a lithostratigraphical term used mainly in the British Isles for the coal-bearing part of the Upper Carboniferous System The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian period about 359 Fluorite (also called fluorspar) is a Mineral composed of Calcium fluoride, Ca[[Fluorine F2]] Wear Valley is a local government district in County Durham, England. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar These sources were in due course used up or became uneconomic. Spoil heaps from the abandoned lead mines can still be seen, and since the last quarter of the twentieth century have been the focus of attention for the recovery of gangue minerals, such as fluorspar for the smelting of aluminium. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Fluorite (also called fluorspar) is a Mineral composed of Calcium fluoride, Ca[[Fluorine F2]] WikipediaNaming However, abandoned mines and their spoil heaps continue to contribute to the mineral pollution of the river and its tributaries. This has significance because the River Wear is an important source of drinking water for many of the inhabitants along its course. The former cement works at Eastgate, until recently run by Steetley, was based on an inlier of limestone.

The upland area of Upper Weardale retains a flora that relates, almost uniquely in England, to the end of the last Ice Age, although it almost or entirely lacks the particular rarities that make up the unique "Teesdale Assemblage" of post-glacial plants. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland "Last glacial" redirects here For the period of maximum glacier extent during this time see Last Glacial Maximum The last glacial period This may, in part, be due to the Pennine areas of Upper Weardale and Upper Teesdale being the site of the shrinking ice cap. An ice cap is an Ice mass that covers less than 50 000 km² of land area (usually covering a highland area The glaciation left behind many indications of its presence, including lateral moraines and material from the Lake District and Northumberland, although surprisingly few drumlins. Moraine refers to any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris (soil and rock which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions such as those The Lake District, also known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a rural area in North West England. A drumlin (Irish droimnín, a little hill ridge is an elongated whale-shaped Hill formed by glacial action After the Ice Age, the Wear valley became thickly forested. During the Neolithic period and increasingly in the Bronze Age, the forests were progressively cleared for agriculture. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for

It is thought that the course of the River Wear, prior to the last Ice Age, was much as it is now as far as Chester-le-Street. An ice age is a period of long-term reduction in the Temperature of the Earth 's surface and atmosphere resulting in an expansion of continental Ice sheets This can be established as a result of boreholes, of which there have been many in the Wear valley due to coal mining. Coal mining is the extraction or removal of Coal from the Earth by Mining. However, northwards from Chester-le-Street, the Wear may have originally followed the current route of the lower River Team. The River Team is a Tributary of the River Tyne in Gateshead, England The last glaciation reached its peak about 18,500 years ago, from which time it also began a progressive retreat, leaving a wide variety of glacial deposits in its wake, filling existing river valleys with silt, sand and other glacial till. Till is unsorted glacial sediment Glacial drift is a general term for the coarsely graded and extremely heterogeneous Sediments of glacial origin At about 14,000 years ago, retreat of the ice paused for maybe 500 years at the city of Durham. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England This can be established by the types of glacial deposits in the vicinity of Durham City. The confluence of the River Browney was pushed from Gilesgate (the abandoned river valley still exists in Pelaw Woods), several miles south to Sunderland Bridge (Croxdale). The River Browney is a River in County Durham, England, and the largest Tributary of the River Wear. At Chester-le-Street, when glacial boulder clay was deposited blocking its northerly course, the River Wear was diverted eastwards towards Sunderland where it was forced to cut a new, shallower valley. Boulder clay, in Geology, is a deposit of Clay, often full of boulders which is formed in and beneath Glaciers and ice-sheets wherever they are found but The gorge cut by the river through the Permian magnesian limestone can be seen most clearly at Ford Quarry.

In the 17th edition of Encycloaedia Britannica (1990), reference is made to a pre-Ice Age course of the River Wear outfalling at Hartlepool. Hartlepool ('hɑːtlɪpuːl is a North Sea port in North East England

Much of the River Wear is associated with the history of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the Its upper end runs through lead mining country, until this gives way to coal seams of the Durham coalfield for the rest of its length. As a result of limestone quarrying, lead mining and coal mining, the Wear valley was amongst the first places to see the development of railways. The Weardale Railway continues to run occasional services between Stanhope and Wolsingham. The Weardale Railway preservation project In 1993 British Rail announced its intention to close the line following the loss of the line's last significant commercial

Course

Rising in the east Pennines, its head waters consisting of several streams draining from the hills between Killhope Law and Burnhope Seat, the head of the river is held to be in Wearhead, County Durham at the confluence of Burnhope Burn and Killhope Burn. The Pennines are a low-rising Mountain range in Northern England and southern Scotland. Burnhope Seat is a moor in the North Pennines of England. It lies between the heads of the Rivers Tees, South Wearhead is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated at the top of Weardale between Cowshill and Ireshopeburn. This is shown on Ordnance Survey maps, and on the County Durham GIS online. However, a map produced by Durham County Council, and used on an interpretation board at Cowshill shows the River Wear extending from Wearhead to Killhope. Excepting that this apparent extension of the Wear is an error, it can be assumed that there are attempts to reclassify Killhope Burn as the River Wear. This would make sense, as it would then give the River Wear a source.

The river flows eastwards through Weardale, one of the larger valleys of west County Durham, subsequently turning south-east, and then north-east, meandering its way through the Wear Valley and County Durham to the North Sea where it outfalls at Wearmouth on Wearside in Sunderland. Weardale is a dale or Valley, of the east side of the Pennines in County Durham, in England. The North Sea is a marginal, Epeiric sea of the Atlantic Ocean on the European Continental shelf. Wearside is an unrecognised conurbation in North East England, mostly referring to the City of Sunderland, but also including parts of County Durham including History The metropolitan borough was formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 by the merger of several districts of County Durham - Washington The river is 96 km (60 miles) from head to mouth. Prior to the creation of Tyne and Wear, the Wear had been the longest river in England with a course entirely within one county. The Weardale Way, a long-distance public footpath, roughly follows the entire route, including the length of Killhope Burn. Weardale Way is a footpath that follows the River Wear in the North East of England

Wearhead to Bishop Auckland

The wooded riverbanks of the Wear as it flows from Stanhope to Frosterley

There are several towns, sights and tourist places along the length of the river. Stanhope (pronounced in the regional dialect "Stanup" or "Stan'ope" is a small market town in County Durham, in England. Frosterley is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated in Weardale, on the River Wear close to its confluence with Bollihope Burn between The market town of Stanhope is known in part for the ford across the river. Stanhope (pronounced in the regional dialect "Stanup" or "Stan'ope" is a small market town in County Durham, in England. From here the river is followed by the line of the Weardale Railway, which crosses the river several times, through Frosterley, Wolsingham, and Witton-le-Wear to Bishop Auckland. The Weardale Railway preservation project In 1993 British Rail announced its intention to close the line following the loss of the line's last significant commercial Frosterley is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated in Weardale, on the River Wear close to its confluence with Bollihope Burn between Witton-le-Wear is a village within the Wear Valley district of County Durham, England. Bishop Auckland is a Market town in County Durham in North East England.

Bishop Auckland to Durham

On the edge of Bishop Auckland the Wear passes below Auckland Park and Auckland Castle, the official residence of the Bishop of Durham and its Deer Park. Bishop Auckland is a Market town in County Durham in North East England. Auckland Castle is a castle within Bishop Auckland in County Durham, England. See also List of Bishops of Durham The Bishop of Durham is the Anglican Bishop responsible for the Diocese of Durham in A mile or so downstream from here, the Wear passes Binchester Roman Fort, Vinovia, having been crossed by Dere Street, the Roman road running from Eboracum (now York} to Coria (now Corbridge) close to Hadrian's Wall. Binchester Roman Fort (called Vinovia by the Romans) is situated just over a mile to the north of the town of Bishop Auckland on the banks of the River Binchester Roman Fort (called Vinovia by the Romans) is situated just over a mile to the north of the town of Bishop Auckland on the banks of the River Dere Street or Deere Street, (latterly Via Regia in Scotland was a Roman road between Eboracum (York and Scotland. Eboracum was a fort and City in Roman Britain. Today it is known as York, located in North Yorkshire, England. York ( is an historic Walled city sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. Coria may refer to Rodolfo Coria, the Argentine paleontologist Guillermo Coria, the Argentine tennis player Coria Corbridge is a small town in Northumberland, England, situated 16 miles (25 km west of Newcastle and 4 miles (6 km east of Hexham Hadrian's Wall ( Latin: perhaps Vallum Aelium, "the Aelian wall" is a stone and turf Fortification built by the Roman From Bishop Auckland the River Wear meanders in a general northeasterly direction, demonstrating many fluvial features of a mature river, including wide valley walls, fertile flood plains and ox-bow lakes. ||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||}A floodplain, or flood plain, is flat or nearly flat land adjacent to a Stream or River that experiences occasional or periodic Bridges over the river become more substantial, such as those at Sunderland Bridge (near Croxdale), and Shincliffe. Not to be confused with Wearmouth Bridge. Sunderland Bridge is a Village in County Durham, England, about 3 miles Croxdale is a Village in the Civil parish of Croxdale and Hett, about 3 miles south of Durham City, in County Durham in England Shincliffe is a village in the City of Durham, County Durham, in England. At Sunderland Bridge the River Browney joins the River Wear. The River Browney is a River in County Durham, England, and the largest Tributary of the River Wear.

Durham

The wooded riverbanks of the Wear as it flows through Durham. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England

When it reaches the city of Durham the River Wear passes through a deep, wooded gorge, from which several springs emerge, historically used as sources of potable water. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England Water of sufficient quality to serve as drinking water is termed potable water whether it is used for drinking or not A few coal seams are visible in the banks. Twisting sinuously in an incised meander, the river has cut deeply into the "Cathedral Sandstone" bedrock. A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse also known as an oxbow loop or simply an Oxbow. The high ground enclosed by this meander is known as the peninsula, forming a defensive enclosure, at whose heart lies Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral and which developed around the Bailey into Durham city. Durham Castle is a Norman Castle in the city of Durham, England, which has been wholly occupied since 1840 by University College Durham The Cathedral Church of Christ Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, commonly referred to as Durham Cathedral, in the city of Durham, England The Bailey, or The Peninsula, is an historic area in the centre of Durham, England. That area is now a UN World Heritage Site. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex Beneath Elvet Bridge are Brown's Boats (rowing boats for hire) and the mooring for the Prince Bishop, a pleasure cruiser.

The River Wear at Durham was featured on a television programme Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of Northern England. Seven Natural Wonders was a Television series that aired on BBC Two from 3 May to 20 June 2005. Northern England, The North, The North of England or (less commonly The North Country refers to the parts of England north of an ill-defined line

In June each year, the Durham Regatta, which predates that at Henley, attracts rowing crews from around the region for races along the river's course through the city. Durham Regatta is the premier rowing event in the North East of England, held each year on the second weekend in June on the River Wear which provides a Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. ^[2]

Two weirs impede the flow of the river at Durham, both originally created for industrial activities. The Old Fulling Mill is now an archaeological museum. The second weir, beneath Milburngate Bridge, now includes a salmon leap and fish counter, monitoring sea trout and salmon, and is on the site of a former ford. The brown trout ( Salmo trutta morpha fario and S trutta morpha lacustris) and the sea trout ( S Salmon is the common name for several species of Fish of the family Salmonidae. Considering that 138,000 fish have been counted migrating upriver since 1994, it may not be surprising that a family of cormorants live on this weir, and can frequently be watched stretching their wings in an attempt to cool off after feeding.

The river's Elvet Banks also lend their name to a tune in the LCMS 2006 hymnbook, used (appropriately) for a hymn for baptism. Elvet Banks is a modern Hymn tune, in the somewhat unusual meter of 87 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS founded in 1847 in Missouri, is the eighth largest Protestant denomination in the United States and the second-largest A hymn is a type of Song, usually religious specifically written for the purpose of praise adoration or Prayer, and typically addressed to a deity/deities In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted

Durham to Chester-le-Street

Finchale Priory on the banks of the River Wear between Durham City and Chester-le-Street. Finchale Priory (pronounced finkle was a 13th century Benedictine priory the remains are sited by the River Wear, four miles from Durham. Note the wooden footbridge across the river on the right of the photograph.

Between Durham City and Chester-le-Street, ten miles due north, the River Wear changes direction repeatedly, flowing south westwards several miles downstream having passed the medieval site of Finchale Priory, a former chapel and later a satellite monastery depending on the abbey church of Durham Cathedral. Chester-le-Street is the main town in the Chester-le-Street district of County Durham, England. Finchale Priory (pronounced finkle was a 13th century Benedictine priory the remains are sited by the River Wear, four miles from Durham. The Cathedral Church of Christ Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, commonly referred to as Durham Cathedral, in the city of Durham, England Two miles downstream, the river is flowing south eastwards. The only road bridge over the Wear between Durham and Chester-le-Street is Cocken Bridge. As it passes Chester-le-Street, where the river is overlooked by Lumley Castle, its flood plain has been developed into The Riverside, the home pitch of Durham County Cricket Club. Chester-le-Street is the main town in the Chester-le-Street district of County Durham, England. Lumley Castle is a 14th century Quadrangular castle at Chester-le-Street in the North of England, near to the city of Durham and a The Riverside County Cricket Ground is a Cricket venue in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, England. Durham County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English domestic Cricket structure representing the historic county of Passing through the Lambton Estate (still owned by the Lambton family, and briefly a lion park during the 1970s) the river becomes tidal, and therefore navigable. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970.

Chester-le-Street to Sunderland

On exiting the Lambton estate the river leaves County Durham and enters the City of Sunderland, specifically the southern/south-eastern edge of the new town of Washington. History The metropolitan borough was formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 by the merger of several districts of County Durham - Washington Washington is a town within the Metropolitan borough of the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. At Fatfield the river passes beneath Worm Hill, around which the Lambton Worm is reputed to have curled its tail. Fatfield is a small village in Tyne and Wear, located in the City of Sunderland metropolitan borough Lambton Worm is a Legend from the North East of England. The story is one of the region's most famous pieces of Mythology, having been adapted from written Lambton Worm is a Legend from the North East of England. The story is one of the region's most famous pieces of Mythology, having been adapted from written ^[3]

Already the riverbanks are showing evidence of past industrialisation, with former collieries and chemical works. A little further downstream the river passes beneath the Victoria Viaduct. Named after the newly-crowned queen, the railway viaduct opened in 1838, was the crowning achievement of the Leamside Line, then carrying the East Coast Main Line. History The line opened in 1839 and was formed from the original lines of the Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railway and the Durham Junction Railway The East Coast Main Line ( ECML) is the electrified high-speed railway link between London and Edinburgh connecting Yorkshire, North East A mile to the east is Penshaw Monument, a local iconic landmark. Penshaw Monument (officially The Earl of Durham's Monument is a Folly built in 1844 on Penshaw Hill (locally ˈpɛnʃə in Tyne and Wear, North As the river leaves the environs of Washington, it forms the eastern boundary of Washington Wildfowl Trust. WWT Washington is a Wetland reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Washington, Tyne and Wear.

Sunderland

As the river approaches its outfall into the North Sea, it flows past St. Peter's Campus, University of Sunderland. See also St Peter's Tyne & Wear St Peter's is a campus of the University of Sunderland on the north bank of the River Wear. The University of Sunderland is located in Sunderland, North East England.
Shadows in Another Light, a sculpture in which the shadow cast by a tree represents a hammerhead crane, unique to the Sunderland shipyards,^[4] can be seen at the left of this image.

Having flowed beneath the A19 trunk road, the river enters the suburbs of Sunderland. The A19 is a major Road in England, running parallel to and east of the A1 road. Sunderland (, or /ˈsʌn(dlən/ is a City in Tyne and Wear, England. The riverbanks show further evidence of past industrialisation, with former collieries, engineering works and dozens of shipyards. Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships These can be Yachts military In their time, Wearside shipbuilders were some of the most famous and productive shipyards in the world. The artist L. S. Lowry visited Sunderland repeatedly and painted pictures of the industrial landscape around the river. Laurence Stephen Lowry (1 November 1887 – 23 February 1976 was an English Artist born on Barrett Street Stretford, Lancashire. Three bridges cross the Wear in Sunderland: the Queen Alexandra Bridge to the west, and the Wearmouth rail and road bridges in the city centre. This article is about the bridge crossing the River Wear; for the bridge crossing the Ottawa River, see Alexandra Bridge. The Wearmouth Bridge is a Compression arch suspended-deck bridge across the River Wear in Sunderland.

On both banks at this point there are modern developments, some belonging to the University of Sunderland (St. Peter's Campus; Scotia Quay residences) and to the National Glass Centre. The University of Sunderland is located in Sunderland, North East England. See also St Peter's Tyne & Wear St Peter's is a campus of the University of Sunderland on the north bank of the River Wear. The National Glass Centre is a cultural venue and Visitor attraction located in Sunderland, North East England. A riverside sculpture trail runs alongside this final section of its north bank. A sculpture trail is most often a permanent series of large outdoor sculptures located in a Woodland or Parkland settings with public walkways giving access to ^[5] The St Peter's Riverside Sculpture Project was created by Colin Wilbourn, with crime novelist and ex-poet Chaz Brenchley. Chaz Brenchley (born Oxford, 4 January, 1959) is a British writer of novels and short stories associated with the genres of horror They worked closely with community groups, residents and schools. ^[6]

As the river approaches the sea, the north bank (Roker) has a substantial residential development and marina. A dolphin nick-named Freddie was a frequent visitor to the marina, attracting much local publicity. However, concern was expressed that acclimatising the dolphin to human presence might put at risk the safety of the dolphin regarding the propellors of marine craft. The south bank of the river is occupied by what remains of the Port of Sunderland, once thriving and now almost gone.

The River Wear flows out of Sunderland between Roker Pier and South Pier, and into the North Sea. Roker (ˈrɔkʌ locally or /ˈroʊkɚ/ is a tourist resort in North East England, bounded on the south by the River Wear and Monkwearmouth, on the The North Sea is a marginal, Epeiric sea of the Atlantic Ocean on the European Continental shelf.

See also

• List of crossings of the River Wear
• List of rivers of England

References

Sources

• Natural Environment Research Council, Institute of Geological Sciences, 1971, "British Regional Geology: Northern England" Fourth Edition, HMSO, London. The Natural Environment Research Council ( NERC) is a British research council that supports research training and
• Johnson, G. A. L. & Hickling, G. (eds. ), 1972, "Geology of Durham County", Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Vol. 41, No. 1.
• 'Wear River', "Encyclopaedia Britannica", 17th Edition, 1990.

Gallery

Croxdale Viaduct carries the East Coast Main Line railway between London and Edinburgh over the River Wear at Sunderland Bridge, near Durham City	This old stone bridge at Sunderland Bridge, near Durham City, once carried the Great North Road from London to Edinburgh	Sunderland Bridge over the River Wear near Durham City. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England The brown colouration of the water is due to moorland peat that has been washed into the river upstream during heavy rainfall.	The 1826 old stone bridge at Shincliffe, near Durham City
Maiden Castle footbridge links the University of Durham's sports centre with its football and rugby pitches across the river. Shincliffe is a village in the City of Durham, County Durham, in England. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England Running over the footbridge at a certain speed creates a resonance such that the bridge vibrates.	Baths Bridge is a footbridge named after the swimming baths at the southern end of the bridge. In warm summer weather, youths eschew the chlorinated water of the swimming pool, and throw themselves into the river from the centre of Baths Bridge, a feat that requires courage as the river is shallow.	New Elvet Bridge over the River Wear in Durham City	Elvet Bridge over the River Wear in Durham City. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England Elvet Bridge is now largely pedestrianised.
The River Wear in Durham City, looking towards Kingsgate Bridge from Elvet Bridge	Prebends Bridge over the River Wear in Durham City. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England Kingsgate Bridge is a striking modern Reinforced concrete construction Footbridge across the River Wear, in Durham, England. Elvet Bridge is a mediaeval masonry arch bridge across the River Wear, in Durham, England. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England Although built as a road bridge, subsidence due to coal mining beneath the bridge means that Prebends Bridge is almost exclusively pedestrianised.	Prebends Bridge over the River Wear in Durham City. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England	Milburngate Bridge (foreground) and Framwellgate Bridge (background) are respectively modern and ancient. The series of weirs is on the site of an ancient ford, whereas a modern fish-counter on one of the weirs allows the National Rivers Authority to count the fish (mostly trout and salmon) migrating upstream.
Pennyferry Bridge is a millennium footbridge over the River Wear in Durham City.	Cocken Bridge over the River Wear is the only road crossing between Durham and Chester-le-Street. It is a narrow bridge on a twisty, narrow road, but serves as a rat-run between the A690 at West Rainton and the A167 between Pity Me (Durham City) and Chester-le-Street, by-passing Durham city centre. The A690 is a road in County Durham running from Sunderland in the east through Durham to Crook. The A167 is a Road in North East England. Most of its route was formerly the A1 as most of it is the original route of the Great North Road until Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England Chester-le-Street is the main town in the Chester-le-Street district of County Durham, England. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England	Fatfield Bridge over the River Wear, in Fatfield, beside Worm Hill, and close to Penshaw Monument. Lambton Worm is a Legend from the North East of England. The story is one of the region's most famous pieces of Mythology, having been adapted from written Penshaw Monument (officially The Earl of Durham's Monument is a Folly built in 1844 on Penshaw Hill (locally ˈpɛnʃə in Tyne and Wear, North	Victoria Viaduct over the River Wear near Washington. The Victoria Viaduct is a rail bridge spanning the River Wear in North East England, carrying the Mothballed Leamside Line. This massive railway viaduct, a spectacular engineering feat on the Leamside Line, was completed in 1839, and carried the East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh until 1872. History The line opened in 1839 and was formed from the original lines of the Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railway and the Durham Junction Railway
Hylton Viaduct carries the A19 over the River Wear. The Hylton Viaduct is a road traffic and pedestrian bridge spanning the River Wear in North East England, linking the North Hylton and South Hylton The A19 is a major Road in England, running parallel to and east of the A1 road. North and South Hylton are respectively on the north and south banks of the river; Washington lies upstream and Sunderland downstream. Many years ago, a ferry plied the river close by, and the name of the road from which this photograph was taken is called Ferryboat Lane. Washington's Nissan car factory is just beyond the viaduct, built on the site of the former Sunderland Airport.	The original Wearmouth Bridge, when it was first opened in 1796, was the largest single span bridge in the world, and only the second iron bridge after the one at Ironbridge in Shropshire. The Wearmouth Bridge is a Compression arch suspended-deck bridge across the River Wear in Sunderland. Ironbridge is a settlement on the River Severn, at the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge in Telford, Shropshire, England. Shropshire (ˈʃrɒpʃɪə/ /-ʃə alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated in print only Shrops, is a county in the It was reconstructed in 1857 and again in 1927 with the addition of a large steel arch support structure to cope with the heavier volume of traffic. It is the last bridge the Wear flows under before it reaches the North Sea.

Coordinates: 54°55′N 1°22′W / 54.917, -1.367