Piercebridge Roman Bridge

Piercebridge Roman Bridge is the ruin of a Roman bridge over the River Tees in northern England, near the villages of Cliffe and Piercebridge. It carried Dere Street, the major Roman road linking York with Corbridge near Hadrian's Wall. Two bridges existed at the site: a timber bridge on the original road line abandoned near the end of the 2nd century, and a stone-pier replacement built 180 m downstream around the beginning of the 3rd century, originally about 123 m long. Discovered during gravel quarrying in 1972, the massive masonry remains demonstrate impressive Roman engineering. Votive offerings recovered from the river suggest the crossing also held religious significance.