HistoricBridges.org Menu: HistoricBridges.org Menu:


We Recommend:
Bach Steel - Experts at historic truss bridge restoration.

HistoricBridges.org: Bridge Browser

Craigellachie Bridge

Craigellachie Bridge

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth

Bridge Documented: May 14, 2018

View Photos
and Videos
View Maps
and Links

Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
Pedestrian Walkway (Old A941) Over River Spey
Location
Craigellachie: Moray, Scotland: United Kingdom
Structure Type
Metal Hingeless Deck Arch, Fixed
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1814 By Builder/Contractor: Plas Kynaston Iron Foundry, of Cefn Mawr, Wales and William Hazledine of Shrewsbury, England and Engineer/Design: Thomas Telford
Rehabilitation Date
1964
Main Span Length
150.0 Feet (45.7 Meters)
Structure Length
150.0 Feet (45.7 Meters)
Roadway Width
Not Available
Spans
1 Main Span(s)
Inventory Number
Not Applicable

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
View Information About HSR Ratings

Bridge Documentation

Visit the Friends of Craigellachie Bridge Website

This beautiful bridge, bypassed and preserved for pedestrian use, is one of the most famous historic cast iron bridges in Scotland. Reportedly, it is the oldest iron arch bridge in Scotland. Its cast iron arch has the trademark design of a bridge designed by Thomas Telford including diamond lattice spandrel bracing and a heavy cast iron lattice arch rib.

One of the most unique and visually stunning features of the Craigellachie Bridge is the beautiful castellated towers on the abutments, which give this bridge an eye-catching feature not found on most cast iron arch bridges.

Unlike the similar (but younger) Mythe Bridge, the original cast iron spandrel bracing on the Craigellachie Bridge appears to have been replaced and/or altered, as welded connections and newer rolled steel (with Skinningrove England marks on them) are present. The original spandrel bracing design would have been cast iron with no welding present. Also unlike the Mythe Bridge, the railing on the Craigellachie Bridge is also not original. The cast iron arch ribs of this bridge remain original and appear unaltered however.

The bridge is owned by the Moray Council, but also enjoys the support of a local friends group.

Above: Historical image of bridge in 1867 book The Life of Thomas Telford, by Samuel Smiles.

The following is a description of this bridge as it appeared in the Appendix of the 1838 autobiography of Thomas Telford.

CRAIGELLACHIE BRIDGE—The bridge over the river Spey at Fochabers was built by the Duke of Gordon about seventeen years since, partly at the expense of the public, and is maintained by tolls, not differing materially in the circumstances of its erection from Dunkeld bridge, excepting that it was not completed under our care. The utility of it was so strongly felt in the neighbourhood, that an application was made in the year 1810 for aid towards building a second bridge over the Spey at Boharm; but this being within six miles of Fochabers, we did not hold out much encouragement to the memorialists. Aware of the nature of our objection, they fixed on another site twelve miles above Fochabers, where the river Spey, rushing obliquely against the lofty rock of Craigellachie, has cut for itself a deep channel, not exceeding fifty yards in breadth. Over this an iron arch has been constructed, and is the more beautiful, from not being in immediate contact with masonry arches, as was necessary at Bonar. The scattered birch trees and native firs on the side of the impending mountain, the meadows along the valley of the Spey, and the western road of access to the bridge cut deeply into the face of the rock, combine, with the slender appearance of the iron arch, in rendering this spot one of the most remarkable in Scotland. Subsidiary to the main arch, and at some distance from it, are three others, built of stone, fifteen feet span each, under the eastern road of approach. These are useful in time of speats or river-floods, to which the Spey is remarkably liable. The entire price of this bridge, and its approaches, including the rock blasting on the west side of the river, was no more than £. 8,200; but we have to regret that the contractors, in ‘their zeal for the speedy and effectual accomplishment of their engagement, lost about £500 additional. This bridge was painted in 1818 at an expense of £130; and for parapets and railing along the eastern causeway of approach was expended above £100 last year.

Official Heritage Listing Information and Findings

Listed At: Category A

Discussion:

Historic Environment Scotland Number: LB2357

Canmore ID: 16336

Site Number: NJ24NE 15

Description
Thomas Telford, dated 1814. Single span cast-iron bridge. 4-rib segmental arch rings springing from tooled granite abutments, with crenellated circular turrets flanking approach causeway from S. Similar end turrets flank bridge at N where abutments are keyed into cliff side. Lattice-girder braces link arch to carriageway. Modern metal parapet. Span; 150' (45.7m)

Statement of Special Interest
Inscription (cast-iron plaque) reads Cast at Plas Kynaston Ruabon Denbighshire 1814 . Further plaque records restoration of bridge by Banffshire, Moray and Nairn County Councils, 1964. Oldest wide span cast-iron bridge in Scotland. Previously also a scheduled monument (scheduled on 20/10/1971 and de-scheduled on 24/01/2006).

(Undated) information in NMRS:
(Location cited as NJ 285 452). Craigellachie Bridge. This bridge was built in 1812-15 by engineer Thomas Telford and is one of the finest cast-iron bridges in Britain. A single 150ft (45.7m) arched span, with 4 ribs, is supported by rustic ashlar abutments, with castellated terminals and rubble wing walls. One of the terminals (on the Banff side) has 2 cast-iron plaques with the legends 'CAST AT PLAS KYNASTON RUABON DENBEIGHSHIRE' and '1814'.
J R Hume 1977.

This bridge is the oldest surviving iron bridge in Scotland. It cost 8,200 pounds sterling, which was 200 pounds sterling more than the estimate, and the money was found by the Parliamentary Commissioners and by local subscribers. It was restored in 1964 by Banff, Moray and Nairn County Councils, and by-passed in 1972.

The ironwork was cast at Plas Kynaston by William 'Merlin' Hazledine, Telford's normal ironmaster. It was erected by William Stuttle, Telford's foreman, and the stonework was by John Simpson, mason, of Shrewsbury.

The bridge is situated to take advantage the constriction formed by an outcrop of hard Moinian gneiss. Telford allowed for floods by placing the bridge on abutments 12'(3.7m) above normal water level; it withstood the flood of 1829, when the Spey here rose 15' 6" (4.7m), although the flood arches were washed away.

The four ribs are mounted 15' (4.6m) apart and they make an arc of smaller radius than the roadway, which partly accounts for the lightness of the bridge. The spandrels are formed of diamond lattice which also contributes to the delicacy of the design. The castellated rustic ashlar towers that decorate the abutments are 50' (15.2m) high and hollow with false arrow slits; they are perhaps rather heavy.
G Nelson 1990

This bridge formerly carried the A941 public road over the River Spey between the parishes of Knockando (to the N) and Aberlour (to the S), within the pre-1975 counties of Morayshire and Banffshire respectively. Both these parishes fall within the post-1975 Moray District of Grampian Region.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 7 December 1995.


This bridge is tagged with the following special condition(s): Cast Iron

Divider

Photo Galleries and Videos: Craigellachie Bridge

 

View Photo Gallery

Bridge Photo-Documentation

Original / Full Size Photos
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

Divider

View Photo Gallery

Bridge Photo-Documentation

Mobile Optimized Photos
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

Divider

Maps and Links: Craigellachie Bridge

Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):

Search For Additional Bridge Listings:

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

Additional Maps:

Google Maps

Google Streetview (If Available)

Bing Maps

OpenStreetMap

GeoHack (Additional Links and Coordinates)

Apple Maps (Via DuckDuckGo Search)

Apple Maps (Apple devices only)

MapQuest

HERE We Go Maps

ACME Mapper

Waze Map

Android: Open Location In Your Map or GPS App

Flickr Gallery (Find Nearby Photos)

Wikimedia Commons (Find Nearby Photos)

Directions Via Sygic For Android

Directions Via Sygic For iOS and Android Dolphin Browser

Ordnance Survey Maps (UK Only)


Divider
 
Home Top

Divider

About - Contact

© Copyright 2003-2024, HistoricBridges.org. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: HistoricBridges.org is a volunteer group of private citizens. HistoricBridges.org is NOT a government agency, does not represent or work with any governmental agencies, nor is it in any way associated with any government agency or any non-profit organization. While we strive for accuracy in our factual content, HistoricBridges.org offers no guarantee of accuracy. Information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Information could include technical inaccuracies or errors of omission. Opinions and commentary are the opinions of the respective HistoricBridges.org member who made them and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone else, including any outside photographers whose images may appear on the page in which the commentary appears. HistoricBridges.org does not bear any responsibility for any consequences resulting from the use of this or any other HistoricBridges.org information. Owners and users of bridges have the responsibility of correctly following all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, regardless of any HistoricBridges.org information.

Admin Login

Divider