TUVWY - Alphabetical List

TAY BRIDGE Aberfeldy
C.Perth  R.Tay  285127,749299

History:1733-35. Military. Wade. Crieff/Dalnacardoch Rd. This was Wade's masterpiece. It was designed by William Adam, whom Wade described as the best architect in Scotland. Wade regarded the bridge as a prestige symbol and a lasting memorial. He was right! It looks as as if it belongs to an expensive country estate.It was completed in a single year(1734) and cost £4000. Wade had considered a major bridge at Dunkeld in order to cross the Tay, but fell out with the Duke of Atholl and so chose Aberfeldy instead. Stone was quarried at Farrowchil, one mile away. The Weem Hotel, on the north bank of the river, was originally a barracks for his workers. Major William Caulfeild supervised the finishing of the bridge but Wade was brought back for the grand opening in 1735. In 1746, Prince Charles' army retreated over the bridge with Cumberland's troops in hot pursuit. The Battle of Culloden was just a few weeks away. 

Maps:1750

Currently: 1733.This is the most elaborate of the eighteenth century military bridges and quite atypical. It is a classic William Adam construction. The foundations are underpinned by 1200 oak piles, encased in iron. There are five segmental arches; centre 62ft; then two sets of pairs. It is 368 ft. long. and 14 ft. wide. It has very large ashlar voussoirs and squared coursed rubble spandrels and abutments. The stone is chorite schist. There are obelisks at each quarter and unusual stepped parapets descend to the lesser arches. There are two inscriptions, one in English, which is very matter-of-fact, and one in Latin, which is very flowery in style.

Link photo photo photo photo.

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TEITH BRIDGE Doune
C.Stirling  R.Teith   272176,701232

History: 1535:inscription appears original. Built by Robert Spittal, tailor to Queen Margaret Tudor. (Spittal is also reputed to have built Tullibody Bridge and Bannockburn Bridge.) The bridge was a key component of an ancient north/south route which bypassed Stirling by way of the Fords at Frew. In 1715 it 

was‘destroyed’ (probably, one arch was cut) by the Earl of Argyll in order to force the Jacobite army to take the Stirling approach from Perth; the battle of Sherrifmuir may have been a consequence. In the’45 rebellion the Highland army crossed it both in advance and in retreat. The bridge was later part of Caulfield's military road of 1752 from Stirling to Inverness. The road became a turnpike in 1812. The bridge was widened in 1866. Old and New Statistical Accounts contain descriptions of its provenance.
Maps:1750(Roy) 1680s(Adair)

Currently: Two large semicircular arches with clear parallel widening and a younger facing on the upstream side(photo1), which has ashlar voussoirs and random rubble walls. On the older downstream facing there are dressed, un-squared, un-coursed rubble spandrels and walls (other photos) and the voussoirs are rubble and rather crude. There is no chamfering. The original width was about 10ft between the parapets (judging from the widening).  Marked string course and much younger parapets in which earlier inscriptions and heraldry have been embedded. Included, is an example of twin royal arms (photo 6). The arch shape, the cutwaters and the narrow width all suggest an early date compatible with its 16th century history. However, the masonry looks firmly from the 18th century- perhaps from the time of Argyll's intervention but there is no documentation for any rebuild. This is difficult to reconcile. It was an important crossing and one might have expected it to have been widened in 1716.   It is still rather narrow for two-way traffic, even after the 1866 widening.  In 1740 a presbyterian secessionist church was built next to the south downstream abutment and this was rebuilt in 1832 along with a manse. The church collapsed in the 1940s and is now a ruin in the garden of the surviving manse.

Link photo photo photo photo photo photo photo
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OLD TONGLAND BRIDGE Kirkcudbright
C. Dum & Gall  R. Dee  269705,553651

History:Possible link to Tongland Abbey Church, of which nothing remains. Fragments of the abbey stonework have been found embedded in the bridge. NSA Kirkcudbright reports that Mary Queen of Scots crossed a wooden bridge at Tongland in her flight from Langside (1568) and pulled down the bridge behind her to prevent pursuit. The present old bridge was built in 1737. It was incorporated into the Carlisle/Portpatrick military road system in 1772, thus altering the original line of the road (1764) which previously crossed at Bridge of Dee. Bypassed in 1805 by Thomas Telford's New Tongland Bridge 500m downstream
Maps:Roy(1750)
Currently: A greatly altered 18th century bridge. Beautifully preserved. Two very high stilted segmental arches with three paired very high cutwater/ buttresses. Squared rubble brought to course and rubble voussoirs. Ten ft. wide original width. Now has cantilevered widening of the decking on both sides. Extensive strengthening of the abutments and central pier on the downstream side.

Link photo photo.
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TOWER BRIDGE Dunfermline
C.Fife  Tower Burn  308726,687279

History:Adjacent to Malcom Canmore's tower and close to the medieval abbey. Probably the bridge referred to as 'Gyrth-Bow' in the time of David I (14th C. Reg. of Dunfermline Charter 433) connecting the two communities of Dunfermline. OSA refers to 'Malcolm's Bridge' the highest part having recently been built by a Mr.Chalmers-"a work of great labour and expense."
Maps:Roy(1750) Blaeu (1640) depicts a very compact but split Dunfermline (see map below)
Currently: The existing semicircular double arched (one above the other) bridge has a lower portion from 1611 and an upper part from 1780. The earlier portion was a 'Collection' period bridge 9 ft wide: later underpinned by two large ribs which appear as the lowest of three arches. At the same time the low bridge was widened to 17ft. Reinforcement is very similar to Newmills nearby. So in total there are three arches. The upper 18th century portion has copied the rusticated voussoirs from the earlier period. Coursed squared sandstone spandrels, especially well finished in the lowest arch: possibly weathered ashlar. Balustrades. Well engineered buttressing. No medieval remains here, however.

Link Linkearly-sketch map photo photo photo photo.
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TRINAFOUR BRIDGE nr. Blair Atholl
C.Perth  Erochty Water  272504,764711

History:Military bridge. Wade: Crieff to Dalnacardoch road. 1730. The approaching military road can be seen (photo4)
Maps:1750
Currently:18th C , though widened on the upstream side from about 9ft to 21 ft. This widening was from the parliamentary period (around 1810) and the characteristic plumb and batter buttressing can be seen. The arch is almost semicircular. Parapets are sloping. The voussoirs appear to be whinstone. There is more recent iron pattress plating. Un-coursed partially dressed rubble and some random rubble.

Link photo photo photo photo
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TULLIBODY BRIDGE
C.Clackmannan  R.Devon  284652,695135

History: Reputedly built by Robert Spittal in 1520, who also sponsored Bannockburn and Doune bridges. In 1560 Scots troops collapsed the west arch to delay the retreat of the French (Mary of Guise troops), going from Leith to Stirling. The breach was repaired by the French, from the roof of the Auld Kirk. Further major repairs in 1596 (a Stirling Charter) and in 1616. Parliament granted a levy in 1675 for extensive work, done in 1697.
Maps: Roy(1750) Adair (1680s)
Currently: Two small ribbed stilted gothic arches of 18ft.span. Four ribs each. One arch has two orders of chamfered voussoir, which almost gives the impression of archivolting. Long approaches are well designed with three small semicircular flood arches. These are of a later date: perhaps 1697. Coursed squared rubble spandrels and in some parts, possibly weathered ashlar. The western arch is the younger, damaged one. Fortified twist to deter charging horsemen. The central portion which crosses the river is the oldest section. The spans are 18ft which seems unnecessarily small for a 1520 date; a single, larger (45ft) arch without a pier might be expected. Width is 11ft. These small gothic spans suggest a 15th century date. Worth noting that the link to Robert Spittal is by tradition only. However, there is no mention of the bridge in the charters of Cambuskenneth Abbey.

Link photo photo photo photo photo.
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TUMMEL BRIDGE (Kinnachen or Cannaghan Bridge)
C. Perth  R.Tummel  276249,759189

History: 1733 military road. Wade. Crieff to Dalnacardoch road. The work was contracted out to John Stewart of Canagan. Known earlier as Canagan Bridge. The Kynachan estate is now a Forrestry park. Mr Stewart was paid £200 but contracted to maintain the bridge for 20 years, at his own expense. The contract papers still exist.
Maps:1750
Currently:1733
One segmental arch, 55ft + 1 flood arch, 11 ft wide. Enormous single buttress on upstream side. Very markedly humped. Random un-coursed, but well faced rubble on upper parts. Lower spandrels have some rough coursed and squared rubble. Voussoirs in rubble. Appears to be semi-harled. Cramping. The brass plate with 1730 date is a little early. A Kings-house from the same period is adjacent.
This is not a typical Wade bridge - perhaps reflects a subcontractor.-Only a few of his bridges were actually built by the army. This one is more humped and better built than usual.

Link  Link photo photo.
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UPPER NORTH WATER BRIDGE Inglesmaldie 

C.Forfar  North Esk  365273,766135

History: Written date 1539 (Inglis). Widened in 1800 and major repair/restructuring in 1841. Toll imposed for upkeep in 1669.
OSA Logie-Pert (1790). Rev.Peter records that the bridge was built '200 years ago' by a John Erskine of Dun in response to a dream which threatened a miserable after-death. He took three attempts to build it. (Worth noting here that a few km away is Marykirk, the probable location of two bridges identified in Arbroath Charters from early 13th C.)
Maps:1750 Pont 30(1600)
Currently:16th C.
Three 50ft almost semicircular five-ribbed arches. Coursed well dressed squared rubble spandrels; in some parts possibly very weathered ashlar. Decaying heraldic plaque on downstream side. Although the masonry is very weathered, the ashlar voussoirs are of very high quality fro a bridge of this period.

Link photo photo photo photo.
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OLD BRIDGE OF URR Castle Douglas
C. Dum & Gall  Urr Water   277603,567723

History:This old bridge has a date stone on the S. facing which is now indecipherable but creditably gives a 1580 date. The bridge appears on Pont (1640) which appears to be confirmation. Another date panel on the S parapet reads 1815. It is known to have been repaired in 1728 and widened in 1772 . It was a mill bridge and the mill is adjacent.
Maps:Roy(1750) Blaeu(1640)
Currently: Apart from the panels on the S. facing it is difficult to see anything from the 16th century. Two semicircular rubble arches without ribbing. Spandrels in well dressed , very roughly squared rubble which is brought to course. This all fits with an 18th century date. The parapets are probably from the 1815 date. The widening can be seen. Now 13ft wide p to p.
After some thought given a maroon marker rather than a red one. It was common practice to transplant panels through repairs and rebuild.

Link Link photo photo photo.
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WEST BRIDGE Cullen    see CULLEN HOUSE


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WHITE BRIDGE (Cawdor)   see CLEPHANTON


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WHITE BRIDGE Foyers
C.Inverness  R.Foyers  248917,815370

History:1732 Wade military bridge. Ft.William Inverness Road. Roy describes this a 'Six Mile Bridge' Cost £150 to build. Seriously damaged in floods of 1829..."in a very singular manner-the outside walls and parapets were left entire while the roadway arch all within totally disappeared" (Dick Laird).
Maps:1750 but also probable location of a Pont bridge (1600). Difficult to locate on Pont.
Currently:1830 complete rebuild in 18th c. style in random un-coursed rubble, except the arch is in ashlar. Worn date-stone preserved. Marked string. Single semicircular 40ft arch with sandstone decorative voussoirs. Nine ft. wide. Adjacent bypass bridge is 1932, though the 18th century facings have been preserved.

photo photo photo.
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YESTER BRIDGE Gifford
C.Lothian  Gifford water   354141,667344

History: This is probably the location of the Bowbriggis of Bothanis identified in charter No.1051 (dated 1580) in the Yesterwrits. Bothans (Yester) was a very ancient settlement. The present bridge dates from 1744 - a William Adam classic - similar in ways to the Aberfeldy Bridge which he designed for General Wade.
Maps:Roy(1750), but unusual depiction. Not on Blaeu.
Currently: A beautiful estate bridge (Yester House was also built by Adam). Single span raised semicircular arch with a horizontal decking. Strong string course and arch hood-mould. Obelisks at the quadrants. Squared well dressed rubble spandrels brought to course. Rubble voussoirs.

photo.