Stirling Old Bridge is a stone bridge which crosses the River Forth. For over 300 years it provided the lowest crossing point of the Forth and so had strategic importance. [1]
Old Bridge | |
|---|---|
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| Coordinates | 56°7′43.03″N3°56′12.78″W / 56.1286194°N 3.9368833°W |
| Carries | foot and bicycle traffic |
| Crosses | River Forth |
| Locale | Stirling |
| Heritage status | Category A listed building |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Stone |
| Total length | 268 feet (82 m) |
| No. of spans | 4 |
| History | |
| Construction end | circa 1500 |
| Location | |
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The stone bridge was constructed on rubble foundations around 1500 [2] and replaced earlier wooden bridges, including that on which the Battle of Stirling Bridge was fought.
The bridge originally had arches at either end and a defensive gate at the end nearer the burgh. Tolls were levied on goods being taken across the bridge. [3] : 114
In December 1745, Brigadier-General William Blakeney, the lieutenant governor of Stirling Castle, had one of the bridge arches destroyed to hinder the movement of the Jacobite Army. [3] : 160 The destroyed arch was rebuilt in 1749. [4] [5]
In May 1833 the adjacent new road bridge was opened to traffic and the Old Bridge was closed to wheeled traffic. [1] [3] : 196
The bridge was designated as a Category A Listed Building in 1965. [2]
Media related to Stirling Old Bridge at Wikimedia Commons