Durham Memories goes in search of the link between a troublesome bishop, the Tower of London and a city landmark.

The earliest of Durham's bridges was known until the 16th Century as Old Bridge. This was Framwellgate Bridge, built by Ranulf Flambard, one of the most powerful Bishops of Durham.

Flambard was in his time one of the most influential men in England. He had been principal advisor to William Rufus and was responsible for bringing great wealth to the king by heavily taxing the barons and postponing the appointment of bishops so the king could reap the revenues of the various bishoprics.

In 1099 Rufus rewarded Flambard for his service by making him Bishop of Durham, and a rich reward it was, since the bishops of Durham were Prince Bishops, holding political and ecclesiastical powers in Durham as virtual rulers of the see.

Unfortunately Flambard's position was weakened in 1100 when King William Rufus died during a hunting accident in Hampshire's New Forest. The king's brother, Henry another of William the Conqueror's sons, quickly seized power and became Henry I.

He had accompanied Rufus on the hunt and some historians believe he is implicated in the death.

Whatever the cause, Flambard must have been a worried man.

The bishop was well remembered for his moneymaking schemes and was hated by the wealthy and powerful who pressurised the king to have him punished.

Taking advice from council, the king had Flambard arrested.

In 1100 the bishop became the first person in history to be imprisoned in the Tower of London.

The following year Flambard made another important entry into the Tower's records when he became the first man to escape.

He fled to France where he supported the claims to the throne of the Conqueror's eldest son, Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy.

Robert, Henry's brother, was no stranger to England and during an earlier visit in 1080 had established the famous New Castle on the Tyne.

Although King Henry backed down from confrontation, Robert did not seize the throne. Instead the king was forced to pardon him and his supporters, enabling Flambard to return to Durham.

Here Flambard embarked on the building of St Giles Church and encouraged the development of trade in the city. He fortified the castle moat and strengthened the river banks. But his most important work was undoubtedly Framwellgate Bridge, which began in 1128.

In Flambard's time, the market place was the hub of Durham, as it is today, but it is likely there was also commercial development to the west of the river at the junction of South Street, Crossgate and Millburngate.

At that time Durham was divided into four boroughs called St Giles; the Bishop's Borough; Elvet Borough and Old Borough.

The Old Borough was centred upon the street of Crossgate and stretched as far north as Millburngate.

However, the adjoining street of Framwellgate was part of the Bishop's Borough, as was the Market Place, on the other side of the river. It is probable that a ferry linked the two parts of the borough together.

Flambard would have recognised that this was unsatisfactory and set about building a bridge.

It would be misleading to assume Framwellgate Bridge is entirely Flambard's work because it has seen much renovation and rebuilding over the centuries.

Today it consists of two prominent wide arches with a span of 90ft, but these are not Flambard's work. There is, however, a third, smaller land arch hidden from view beneath the buildings of Silver Street and this may be one of Flambard's originals.

It is likely that the original bridge had five or six arches and would have more closely resembled Elvet Bridge than it does today.

The original arches were most likely swept away by a flood in the year 1401 when Bishop Langley rebuilt the structure.

If there had been five of six arches on Framwellgate Bridge in earlier times then they had certainly gone by the 16th Century when the antiquarian John Leland recorded only three.

A chapel occupied the middle section of the bridge in medieval times but it is not recorded when or how it was removed.

The bridge also had fortified gateways at each end. This ensured that the presence of this bridge did not compromise the natural defences of the city.

The gateway at the Millburngate end was demolished some time before the 17th Century, as it is not shown on Speed's map of 1611.

The gateway at Silver Street is, however, shown on the map. It was demolished in 1760.

Two houses on one end of the bridge were washed away during a great flood in 1771.

Framwellgate Bridge was widened in 1828 to cope with traffic and has undergone much repair work in recent years.

During the renovation of 1828, it is recalled that workmen recovered a live toad embedded in the bridge's masonry. How it came to be there remains a mystery.

* If you have memories of Durham including old photos or stories of people and places you would like to share with The Northern Echo, write to David Simpson, Durham Memories, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF. All photos will be returned.

Published: 18/07/2003

If you have any memories of Durham City, Chester-le-Street, Derwentside or the Durham coast, including old photos or stories of people and places you would like to share with readers of The Northern Echo, write to David Simpson, Durham Memories, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF or email David.Simpson@nne.co.uk. All photos will be returned.