Description

John & Thomas Smith of Darnick, 1832; widened 1882. 2 segmental arches across River Teviot with central panelled pilaster above curved 'beehive' cutwater. Yellow sandstone: bull-faced base; polished ashlar voussoirs, pilaster and parapet; squared elsewhere. Band course; chamfered ashlar cope to parapet.

Statement of Interest

An elegantly proportioned 19th century stone bridge in a prominent position approaching the centre of Hawick from the North. Originally comprising four arches and named 'New Bridge', it was funded by the Turnpike Trustees, and made possible the construction of a new trunk road: prior to its existence there had only been one other similar crossing of the Teviot, in the west of the town.

In 1882 it was widened to assist traffic flow; the work cost £1,300, of which the Town Council contributed £500 and the North British Rail Company donated £25. At this time the corrugated iron parapets were removed and the width of the present pavement was added to each arch. The reinforcements now visible beneath each of the remaining arches reflect the original width of the bridge prior to this work.

The north and south arches were later filled in during the making-up of the lower levels to meet the main street. The bridge continued to carry the main road to Edinburgh until 2000, when it was pedestrianised in preparation for the opening of a new traffic bridge several metres downstream to the east in April the following year.

The bridge's architect-builders, the brothers John and Thomas Smith, were highly regarded by Sir Walter Scott and other local gentry. They continued the practice of their father John Smith, master mason at Darnick, from c.1816, and gave a paper on the building of bridges in whinstone to the RIBA in 1837, despite not being members. They were financially ruined when their bridge at Ashiestiel, the largest rubble span attempted to that date, collapsed during construction; it was later successfully rebuilt. List description revised and category changed from B to C(S) following resurvey (2008).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56635195

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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