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There was a bridge here in 1305, when a grant of pontage was made to William le Latimer, and various references to similar grants for the repair of the bridge occur during the 14th century. Walter Skirlaw, Bishop of Durham, built the present bridge probably in or about the year 1400, and for over three centuries it was the only bridge leading over the Tees from Cleveland to Durham. It was of stone, and consisted of five pointed arches until about 1799, when the northern arch was rebuilt in semicircular form and of wider span. In the early 17th century the obligation of repairing the bridge was disputed by the inhabitants of Yorkshire and Durham, and during the civil wars it was a strategical position of great importance, the arch on the Durham side being at that time used as a drawbridge. Yarm was garrisoned by Parliament, but was recovered for the king by Sir William Cavendish, afterwards Duke of Newcastle.