Ancient and modern crossing, a bridge or ford has been located on or near this site since Roman times. The bridge is recorded from 1238 and was later said to have been made of timber, In 1629 the bridge was 'ruinous' and it was subsequently repaired in 1631. In 1696 and 1698 further repairs were made using stone (or bricks?) blown of the top of the castle with gunpowder. The Old East Bridge was replaced in 1802 by a bridge of five brick arches with stone pilasters and an iron balustrade.<1> The bridge is shown on Speed's map of 1610.<2>