Description

Thomas Telford (engineer) & James Lees (builder), 1827-1831. 5 semi-circular arched bridge; segmental arches carrying footpath, triangular buttresses; wing walls. Droved ashlar; impost and parapet course; tarmac roadway.

SW AND NE ELEVATIONS: 5 semi-circular ashlar arches on piers: ashlar voussoirs and abutments, impost course; 5 projecting flattened segmental arches on decorative pilasters adjoining main piers; triangular supporting buttress to each end, retaining wall, curved wing walls flanking.

NW TO SE ELEVATION: 2-lane road, footpaths flanking; ashlar parapet with insets (inscribed with date), flat copes.

Statement of Interest

Described as having a truly picturesque and commanding appearance, the bridge now carries the A68 across the Tyne. The river had been passable using the ford, that gave its name to the village, but increasing amounts of traffic on the route led to the bridge being built. Instrumental in its building was Sir John Dalrymple, the Convenor of Roads in the district. The bridge is contemporary with Telford's Dean Bridge in Edinburgh, and adheres to the same design. Telford developed the arch-on-arch style during earlier bridge widening schemes, when he realised it provided aesthetic appeal by shadowing the original structure. Adding pilasters to the piers allowed the secondary arch to spring from the structure, so on higher bridges such as these the superstructure appears less massive.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17570539

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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