River Wear

Mouth: Monkwearmouth, City of Sunderland

Source: Wearhead, County Durham

Length: 96/97km

Etymology: Likely Celtic origin with meanings suggested to be: a bend, water, to flow, or river of blood. [1]

Islands:

Regions

Counties:

Quick Trivia:

River Wear forms the Durham peninsula, an important area that would form Durham.
Framwellgate Bridge in Durham is a bridge that was constructed in the 12th Century. [2]
Multiple medieval items, including jetton, rings, and dentures were found in River Wear. [3]
Keel Crossing is the most recently opened crossing of the River Wear, and of Tyne and Wear, opening on the October 17th, 2025.
- The Northern Spire Bridge is the second most recently opened crossing of the River Wear, being opened on August 29th, 2018. [4]
  - Construction began on July 2015. [5]
The Cox Green Footbridge is the second shortest major bridge in length in Tyne and Wear, and fourth general shortest bridge in Tyne and Wear. [6]
The Northern Spire Bridge is the tallest structure in Sunderland, measuring 105m. [4]
The River Team is said to be the original course of the River Wear prior to the last Ice Age, an would thus make the Wear a tributary of the River Tyne anciently.
The catchment area of the River Wear is 1,080 squared kilometres. [7]

Fishes

Image taken 19th October 2025.

Depicts River Wear taken from Penshaw Bridge.

Killhope Burn as the original stream, River Wear forms at Wearhead. It flows through such important places such as Durham and Sunderland.

Course (Mouth to Source)

Tyne and Wear

County Durham

Overall Rating

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (12)

Edited: 13th December 2025 [13:27] - 17th Page Created

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