 The bridge dates from the 13th century and is built of Taynton stone in the same way as Radcot Bridge, which is slightly older.They were built by monks on the orders of King John in order to improve communications between the wool towns in the south of England and the Cotswold farms, and this was named "New Bridge" as it was the youngest out of the three bridges built at the time (the third being the Lechlade bridge, replaced in the 19th century).It was originally much longer than it is now, with 51 arches and being long, compared with the current 12 arches.