 This was almost certainly the first bridge at the site as the Romans were the first occupiers to have the necessary technology to bridge such a wide and fierce tidal river.The Roman engineers might have initially built a pontoon bridge to support and supply their invading armies; however this would have needed replacing by a stronger, more permanent bridge to support increased traffic.Victorian engineers discovered the Roman foundations when they were building the current "Old" bridge, they found that stone foundations had been used, probably to support a wooden deck.