Sunderland Bridge, 1848

SUNDERLAND-BRIDGE, a township, in the chapelry of Croxdale, parish of St. Oswald, union of Durham, S. E. division of Darlington ward, S. division of the county of Durham, 3½ miles (S.S.W.) from Durham. It is a scattered village, stretching along the south side of the deep ravine that separates it from Croxdale; and is remarkable for a bridge over the Wear on the great north road, which consists of four handsome arches; and for another bridge, of one arch, half a mile nearer Durham, over the Browney, a stream tributary to the Wear. The date of the earliest bridge here is unknown, but it existed before 1346, when a bridge is mentioned in the account of a skirmish in the vicinity between Douglas and the English. Both structures are noticed by Leland. The common lands were divided in 1669. The tithes have been commuted for £90. 15. per annum, payable to the perpetual curate of Croxdale chapelry. On the manor of Butterby are saline and sulphureous springs.