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The current bridge was built by James Essex 1764-1765. It replaced a previous stone bridge of 1651-52. Materials of the old bridge were used in the new sub-structure, with Portland and Ketton stone ashlar above water-level. It is characteristically different from St John's Bridge, which was built just down the river 60 years earlier. Essex was also responsible for the building of the Mathematical Bridge, and one of the old Garret Hostel Bridges.
This bridge carries Garret Hostel Lane, which runs between Trinity and Trinity Hall, and then passes over the Cam towards the University Library. It was built in 1960 to designs by T G Morgan. There is a concrete portal frame, which has a single span of 80 feet. The concrete contains an agggregate of Cornish granite, which has been exposed by pneumatic hammering to enhance the finish. The upper deck is paved with York Stone, and the handrails are of satin-polished bronze.
This bridge replaced the 1835-37 cast-iron and ashlar bridge, in the Gothic idiom, by William Chadwell Mylne.
The bridge on this site is recorded to have been rebuilt 6 times before that, in 1591, 1626, 1646, 1769, 1814 and 1821. The 1769 construction, by James Essex, was of brick and timber, and known as the Mathematical Bridge. This is not to be confused with the bridge currently known as the Mathematical Bridge.
Contemporary with Christ's College fellows' building, Clare College Bridge of 1639-40 was Cambridge's first Classical bridge. The mason was Thomas Grumbold of Raunds, the earliest member of the family to work at Cambridge. As the style was so innovative it is unlikely that he was the designer. Features that would set it apart from later buildings are the square sectioned balustrades set diagonally, a feature shared with Christ's College fellows' building, and the large balls on its parapet.
The bridge is of Ketton stone ashlar, and was built at the same time as the College's East range.
Until the last rebuilding, the location of King's bridge was some 45 yards North of its current position, on an axis with the centre of the Gibbs Building. The first bridge was constructed sometime before 1472 and rebuilt several times. The last one in the original position was built in 1627 by George Thompson. That bridge survived until 1818 when it was decided to build a new one to the South The present bridge was designed by William Wilkins and built by Francis Braidwood in 1819-20, a few weeks before his major works on the King's Parade front of the College. Pevsner notes that it is elegant.
Pevsner also enlightens us on the reason for the bridge's relocation. It was part of a scheme to landscape the Backs of King's. As you approach the bridge from the back gate, you are lead down a winding tree-lined avenue. It is only immediately before reaching the bridge that you are encounter the full glory of Clare and King's Colleges from the Backs. According to Pevsner it was intended to have the element of surprise that was so important to picturesque theory and practice.