Upper North Water Bridge
Coordinates: 56 ° 47'8 " N , 2 ° 34'12" W.
| Upper North Water Bridge | ||
|---|---|---|
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| use | Road bridge | |
| Subjugated | North Esk | |
| place | near Marykirk | |
| construction | Stone arch bridge | |
| Number of openings | 3 | |
| Clear width | about 15 m | |
| completion | probably in the 1520s | |
| planner | probably Alexander Galloway | |
| location | ||
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The Upper North Water Bridge is a former road bridge near the Scottish town of Marykirk . It spans the border between the Council Areas of Aberdeenshire and Angus . In 1972 the bridge was included in the Scottish Monument Lists in the highest monument category A. A former additional classification as a Scheduled Monument was lifted in 2016. The associated toll house is classified separately as a Category C structure. The bridge and toll house formerly formed a category B monument ensemble. This status has since been revoked.
history
It seems certain that the Upper North Water Bridge was built in the course of the 16th century. Due to historical documents and architectural similarities, including with the Bridge of Dee , Paxton dates the construction to the 1520s. He explains that both bridges were arranged by the Bishop of Aberdeen Gavin Dunbar (1518-1532), planned by the clergyman Alexander Galloway and executed by the stonemason Thomas Franche . Other sources name the engineer John Erskine of Dun as the planner and date the construction to a period between 1520 and 1590. The Upper North Water Bridge is one of the few remaining bridges from the 16th century in Scotland.
To secure the maintenance costs, the parliament decided in 1669 at the request of David Erskine of Duns to collect a toll for the use of the bridge. The toll house on the south side of the bridge was built around 1800. Over the centuries, the Upper North Water Bridge has been repaired several times. Possibly in 1842 it was widened on the downstream flank by the Aberdeen- based engineer John Gibb . In the meantime, a modern bridge was built about 150 meters upstream, on which the A90 crosses the North Esk, making the Upper North Water Bridge obsolete.
description
The Upper North Water Bridge spans the North Esk about three kilometers west of Marykirk. The masonry viaduct spans the river with three lined segment arches with five ribs each. Their clear width is about 15 meters. The masonry consists of unequal blocks. The pillars are designed with pointed icebreakers . A wrought-iron railing runs on the parapets . The Lower North Water Bridge is located several kilometers downstream near the confluence of the North Esk with the North Sea .
The toll house southwest of the bridge is a two-story quarry stone building with separate natural stone surrounds. Its main facade is three axes wide.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- ↑ Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- ↑ Entry on New North Water Bridge in Canmore, the database of Historic Environment Scotland (English)
- ↑ Entry on Upper North Water Bridge in Canmore, the database of Historic Environment Scotland (English)
Web links
- Entry on Upper North Water Bridge in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database