Bridge of Don (bridge)

The Bridge of Don is a five-arch bridge of granite crossing the River Don just above its mouth in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Bridge of Don
The bridge in 2004 (fifth arch not visible)
Coordinates57°10′32″N 2°05′26″W
CarriesA956 road
CrossesRiver Don
LocaleAberdeen, Scotland
Preceded byBrig o' Balgownie
Characteristics
MaterialGranite
Width66 feet (20 m)
Longest span75 feet (23 m)
No. of spansFive
History
Construction start1827
Construction end1830
Listed Building – Category B
Designated1967-01-12
Reference no.LB20069
Location

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 GB£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 two different bridges can be seen here

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
  1. "Brig o'Balgownie". engineering-timelines.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  2. Historic Environment Scotland. "Aberdeen, Brig o' Balgownie (20161)". Canmore. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  3. House of Commons Papers. H.M. Stationery Office. 1835. p. 35.
  4. Historic Environment Scotland. "Aberdeen, Bridge of Don (20143)". Canmore. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  5. "Bridge of Don". scottish-places.info. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  6. Historic Environment Scotland. "Bridge of Don, King Street  (Category B Listed Building) (LB20069)". Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  7. "Major Road Projects". hansard.millbanksystems.com. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  8. Google (16 September 2014). "Bridge of Don" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  9. "Donmouth Local Nature Reserve". aberdeencity.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 17 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  10. "Aberdeen, Bridge Of Don, Pill Box". scotlandsplaces.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2014.

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