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The old medieval bridge was damaged in a flood on November 8th, 1770.

November 8th, 1770: "At Alnwick, the river rose to an unprecedented degree, so that part of the dam above bridge gave way, together with the foundations of the mills. One of the people employed in recovering what could be come at in the loft above them, saved himself by getting into a window in the gable when the mills fell down, this being the only part that stood, and if the water had not got passage, the houses adjoining must have been swept away. The other mills, called the new mills, had their dam heads carried away. The end of the bridge next to the town was considerably shrunk, owing to the bank having been so much washed away".

December 15th 1770 "Part of the south arch fell into the river, leaving the others in a tottering condition. Many tall trees were rooted out by the strength of the current."

1. THE PETH 5330 The Lion Bridge NU 1813 NE 2/112 10.1.55. I 2. 1775 by John Adam. Ashlar. Three arches and a smaller land arch. Polygonal look outs on each side. Corbelled arcade to crenellated parapet. In the centre on the east side stands the Percy Lion in cast lead. Matching it on the west side was reputedly once a unicorn (symbolizing Scotland). Curved approach parapets with close-set petrified stockade over a round section string and circular end piers. Look outs have blind arrow slits with hood moulds; merlons in crenellations. On the central die on the west side is roughly engraved "Foxy's Leap Au 12 1867" (recording the escape of a militia man). Spandrels of arches over river have circular panels containing blind shields. The panel on which the lion stands has on tile river side, 3 long shields linked by swags. (Scheduled AM 112.)

DENWICK A 1068 NU 11 SE (Alnwick) 10/29 The Lion Bridge, over River Aln 10/1/53 GV I Bridge, 1773 by John Adam. Squared stone with ashlar parapet; lead lion with cast-iron tail. Gothick style. East elevation: central segmental arch flanked by round arches: moulded arch rings; blank shields in circular spandrel panels; stone drain spouts over arches. Cutwaters, pointed on west and rounded on east, carried up as rounded pilasters with blind slits under hoodmoulds and smaller slits above moulded string. Embattled parapet on moulded corbels; refuges have taller parapet on arched corbel table, with cruciform loops and flat moulded coping. Above centre arch is moulded pedestal,with 3 blank shields and festoons, carrying life-size lion with outstretched tail. Parapet on east has plain pedestal without statue. Round-arched carriageway in south abutment; abutments splayed out, with parapets in imitation of fence with adjacent diagonally-set posts and rail below pointed tops; circular end piers with moulded flat caps. Partly in Alnwick U.D. Considerable group value with Alnwick Castle (Alnwick U.D.). SCHEDULED ANCIENT MOMUMENT

This graffiti can be found around the middle of the west parapet of the Lion Bridge. It reads “Fox’s Leap, Au 2 1867”. The story spread quickly. It was reported in the Shields Daily News and the Newcastle Chronicle on August 3rd, 1867.

A LEAP INTO THE RIVEN ALN BY A MILITIA MAN

The Northumberland Militia, the members of which are now undergoing their annual training at Alnwick, were at drill yesterday afternoon, when one of the men; Private John Fox, of No. 4 company, was observed to be under the influence of liquor, and incapable of performing his duty, there having been a cheap trip from Newcastle, where he had been with his friends during the day.

He was ordered off the parade, in charge of a corporal and a file of men, to be taken to the guardroom. The parade ground is in the pasture on the north side of the river, and to reach the town it is necessary to cross over the Lion Bridge. Fox and his escort had got as far as the south arch of the bridge, when, being unwilling to go further, he pretended to be sick. After some delay he went to the side of the bridge, laid his hands on two of the upright parapets, and, with a sudden spring, leapt through the embrasure. Fox fell into the water below, a height of thirty or forty feet. At the spot at which he fell there is a depth of four or five feet of water, into which he plunged. Assistance was at hand, and he was got out in a half unconscious state, and was carried to the regimental hospital. On being examined he was found to be slightly bruised, and one of his ankles were severely sprained. but otherwise he was uninjured by the wild freak.