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^as finisliecl in 1820, during tlie second mayoralty of Mr»
Peacock, who, by a singular coincidence, laid the last stone
on the 19th of August. There are large and substantial
flights of steps on the south side at each end, which lead
down to the Staiths on both sides of the river.
A bridge has stood here from the earliest times ; and upon
the entry into York of Archbishop William, its patron saint, in
1154, the wooden erection, being crowded, gave way, precipitating
many people into the river "
: oweing to his prayers,
however, none were drowned." The first stone bridge was
built in 1235, and was destroyed by a terrible flood 1564.
In 1268-—an affray occurring here between the citizens and
a Scotch nobleman, which resulted in several deaths—
chapel, dedicated to St. William, was built, in order that
prayers might continually be said for their souls. After the
Eeformation this chapel was successively converted into an
exchange, a council chamber, record ofiice, and felons' prison.
It was taken down in 1810, with the old structure to which
it was attached, both having become very dangerous.
SKELDEEGATE BEIDGE,
Between Skeldergate postern and Tower Street, for the
-convenience of the cattle trafiic, is of iron, from a
design of the late Thos. Page, C.E., and erected under
superintendence of his son, Mr. Geo. G. Page. It
consists of five arches, three of which cross the river and
two for the land traffic on each side the river. The
centre arch has a span of 90 feet ; the other river spans are
30 feet wide and the the land arches 24 feet. It is what is
-called a bascule bridge, having a drawbridge to allow the
passage of masted vessels. The machinery is worked by
-hydraulic power. This is a pay bridge—toll, one halfpenny.
There are five bridges over the Eiver Foss in York, the first
of which is the
BLUE BEIDGE,
'Of wood, on the New Walk, for foot passengers only, and
situate just at the confluence of this river with the Ouse.
The two large guns, trophies from Sebastopol, were placed
liere in 1858. A short distance away from this is the