Description

16th century. Coursed cream sandstone bridge with a mixture of masonry finishes (resulting from later repairs) mostly droved and ashlar; also some pink sandstone patching. Three segmental arches (one as overflow arch). Each arch with four chamfered ribs on soffit, except the east arch now with only two. Piers with cutwaters supporting canted refuges at road level. Parapet wall with quadrants and steps at either end, saddleback ashler coping. Roadway hump-backed, varying in width from 9'6" to 9'10".

Statement of Interest

An unusually fine 16th century structure, although it is often thought to have been much older. It formerly had a gateway at its centre.

It seems to have been repaired every hundred years: in 1677 it was declared to be in a dangerous condition, £22 10/- was spent on it in 1772, and it was also very thoroughly restored in the mid 20th century. The two east refuges have several chamfered rybats inserted in their parapets and these are presumed to have come from a church.

Statement of Special Interest Section updated in 2019.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Canongate Bridge at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17567934

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings