 Whether New Bridge or Radcot Bridge is the oldest bridge today across the Thames is debatable – Radcot Bridge was built earlier but was extensively damaged during the Wars of the Roses and had to be greatly rebuilt; furthermore, Radcot Bridge no longer crosses the main channel of the river since local reroutings in 1787.In 1644, in the Civil War, the Battle of Newbridge was fought on the banks of the river.Parliamentarian William Waller attempted to cross in order to surround Oxford and capture King Charles, but was defeated.