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Latitude: 56.5863 / 56°35'10"N
Longitude: -5.7486 / 5°44'54"W
OS Eastings: 169918
OS Northings: 750112
OS Grid: NM699501
Mapcode National: GBR DC59.RNG
Mapcode Global: WH0FG.NQS6
Plus Code: 9C8PH7P2+GH
Entry Name: Single Cable Suspension Bridge, Ardtonish Estate
Listing Name: Ardtonish Estate, Single Cable Suspension Bridge
Listing Date: 11 April 2007
Category: B
Source: Historic Scotland
Source ID: 399416
Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB50848
Building Class: Cultural
Also known as: Ardtonish Estate, Single Cable Suspension Bridge
ID on this website: 200399416
Location: Morvern
County: Highland
Electoral Ward: Fort William and Ardnamurchan
Parish: Morvern
Traditional County: Argyllshire
Tagged with: Suspension bridge
Samuel Barham, circa 1892. Cast-iron and timber mono-cable suspension bridge over the Abhainn a Ghlinne Ghill water on the Ardtornish Estate. 10 thin cast-iron hanger frames, suspended evenly along single iron bar, supported by cast-iron pipe A-frame pylons to either riverside. Pylons set on dressed stone piers with stone foundation into riverbank. Pylons supported by tensile cast-iron cables anchored to hillsides. Hanger frames linked by timber bearers, carrying crossways spanning timber slats to form deck. Timber walkways to either side linking deck to ground level on either side.
The suspension bridge was designed by Samuel Barham, the Clerk of works of the Ardtornish Estate, who oversaw much of the estate buildings in the late 19th century, and is thought to be one of the earliest surviving examples of a single cable suspension bridge in Europe: indeed few have ever been built. This particular design of bridge is claimed to have firstbeen invented by Fritz Leonhardt of Germany as late as 1960, yet drawings for the Ardtornish bridge as built are held by the Ardtornish Estate archive dated 1892, putting it nearly 70 years ahead of this recent claim.
The bridge survives almost entirely in its original condition apart from replacements to the tread timbers over the years. The central suspension member, presumed to be iron wire, is on closer inspection a solid iron rod.
Situated near Acharn farm, at the southern end of Loch Arienas.
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