Until the end of the eighteenth century, the only access from Monkwearmouth to Sunderland or Bishopwearmouth was by ferry. In 1793 Tom Paine, the famous author of The Rights of Man had designed a cast-iron bridge for Philadelphia. The model was exhibited in London, and Rowland Burdon adopted the scheme. The bridge was completed in 1796. Robert Clarke's engraving of the bridge is dedicated to 'Rowland Burdon Esq MP by whom this EXCELLENT PIECE OF MECHANISM was invented and under whose patronage it has been carried into execution.'
Pevsner calls the original bridge ' a triumph of the new metallurgy and engineering ingenuity.' It was of cast-iron and spanned the Wear in one sweep of 236 feet (more than double the span of the first such structure at Ironbridge, but only three-quarters its weight. The castings were made at Walkers of Rotherham (Rowland Burdon was a director) under the direction of Thomas Wilson of Monkwearmouth. It was of superb elegance. The present bridge dates from 1929.
The energetic Burdon, MP for County Durham 1790-1805 also rebuilt the delightful church in Castle Eden. 'This sacred edifice,' reads the inscription over the vestry door, 'which consuming time had now reduced to ruinous decay, was rebuilt by Rowland Burdon [senior] in 1764.' This is probably the first complete Gothick revival church in the North of England. Castle Eden, the Burdon manor house is by William Newton, the architect of the Newcastle assembly Rooms. Castle Eden Dene is the most extensive and beautiful of the Durham denes. Here Rowland Burdon created a romantic garden with caves, grottoes and picturesque features.