Fochabers Bridge

Official Heritage Listing Information and Findings

Listed At: Category A

Discussion:

Historic Environment Scotland Number: LB15645

Canmore ID: 16899

Site Number:

Description
Thomas Telford, 1801-6, George Burn, contractor; repairs after flood damage, 1831-2, Archibald Simpson; reconstruction of W arch, 1852. 3-span bridge consisting of 2 channelled ashlar arch rings (1801-6, 73', 95' wide) at W. Widened deck and modern metal balustrade. Tooled ashlar cutwaters; blind oculus in spandrel of masonry sections.

Statement of Special Interest
Designed and executed 1801-6 as 4-span ashlar masonry bridge; 1829 flood demolished 2 W arches which were replaced by wooden span designed by A Simpson and subsequently reconstructed in cast-iron. Bridge now by-passed. River Spey forms boundary between Bellie and Speymouth parishes.

Information From Moray:
Iron bridge crossing the River Spey, which forms the boundary between Bellie and Speymouth parishes. It was built between 1801 and 1804 by George Burn as a 4-span ashlar masonry bridge. The 1829 flood demolished two West arches, which were replaced by a wooden span designed by Archibald Simpson in 1831-2, and subsequently reconstructed in cast-iron by James Hoby and Co. in 1853. It is now a 3-span bridge with two masonry arches and a 3-rib cast-iron arch, all segmental. The masonry spans have dressed stone arch rings, rubble spandrels with blind occuli and bracketed iron footpaths. The deck has been widened and there is a modern metal balustrade, and the bridge is now by passed. It is also known as the Old Spay Bridge. There is a tollhouse (NJ35NW0016) at the North-West end of the bridge.