Bridge of Don (bridge)
Bridge of Don | |
|---|---|
 The bridge in 2004 (fifth arch not visible) | |
| Coordinates | 57°10′32″N 2°05′26″W / 57.17548°N 2.09060°W |
| Carries | A956 road |
| Crosses | River Don |
| Locale | Aberdeen, Scotland |
| Preceded by | Brig o' Balgownie |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Granite |
| Width | 66 feet (20 m) |
| Longest span | 75 feet (23 m) |
| No. of spans | Five |
| History | |
| Construction start | 1827 |
| Construction end | 1830 |
Listed Building – Category B | |
| Designated | 1967-01-12 |
| Reference no. | LB20069 |
| Location | |
 | |
Bridge of Don is a five-arch bridge of granite, built between 1827 and 1830, crossing the River Don just above its mouth in Aberdeen, Scotland.
History
In 1605 Alexander Hay executed a Charter of Mortification for the maintenance of the 13th century Brig o' Balgownie further upstream, which later became the Bridge of Don Fund, which financed several bridges in the north-east of Scotland.[1][2] This fund having accumulated a value of over £20,000, the patrons of the fund, the town council, sought an Act of Parliament to permit construction of a new bridge in 1825.[3]
The original design by John Gibb and John Smith was modified by Thomas Telford, and construction work started in 1827.[4] Problems with the foundations meant it had to be partly taken down and have additional piles sunk.[4] It was opened free to the public with no toll in 1830 and later gave its name to the suburb of the city on the north bank.[3][4][5]
It was listed as a Category B listed building in 1967.[4][6]
Design
The bridge has five spans of dressed granite, and rounded cutwaters that carry up to road level to form pedestrian refuges.[4] The spans are 75 feet (23 m), with a rise of 25 feet (7.6 m).[4]
It was widened in 1958-59, from 24 feet (7.3 m), to 66 feet (20 m) by the construction of a new concrete bridge adjacent to the old one.[4][7]
It now carries four lanes of the A956 road, and is the last bridge on the River Don before it meets the sea.[4][8] The bridge is just downstream from a substantial island in the river.[8] Around the area of the bridge is the Donmouth Local Nature Reserve, designated as a LNR in 1992.[9] Near to the bridge are a number of World War II era coastal defences, including a pill box.[10]
References
- ^ "Brig o'Balgownie". engineering-timelines.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Aberdeen, Brig o' Balgownie (20161)". Canmore. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ a b House of Commons Papers. H.M. Stationery Office. 1835. p. 35.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Historic Environment Scotland. "Aberdeen, Bridge of Don (20143)". Canmore. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ "Bridge of Don". scottish-places.info. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Bridge of Don, King Street (Category B Listed Building) (LB20069)". Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- ^ "Major Road Projects". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 13 June 1961. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Bridge of Don" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ "Donmouth Local Nature Reserve". aberdeencity.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 17 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ "Aberdeen, Bridge Of Don, Pill Box". scotlandsplaces.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
