This bridge was constructed during the late 1700s and was used to take prisoners who had been condemned to death from the city jail to the former Chapel of St John on the other side of the canal.

This was done to allow prisoners to receive the last rites. Here, they could make their peace and may have spent their last few days and hours in the “dead man’s room” before being led back to the gallows.

The footbridge had a metal railing on each side and was used rather than taking the prisoners through the streets, preventing the possibility of escape.