Description

Circa 1795. Single segmental-arched, symmetrically humped bridge with SW and NE elevations and long ramped approaches. Sandstone rubble with broadly droved dressings to voussoir, arch ring, coping of parapet and terminal dies; rock-faced ashlar below impost bands of arch. Mutuled cornice, rising to point to centre and coped parapet. Walls to E and N terminated by drum piers/dies; quadrant walls to S and W; wing walls step inwards towards centre; walls buttressed (all soon after date of construction, except in 1945 SE buttress added). Plaque to SW elevation, road-side of parapet, noting date of restoration, in 1992, by Borders Regional Council.

Statement of Interest

There was a ford recorded in 1771 at this point of Blackadder Water. There was a major flood of the river during the 18th century. The bridge was first mentioned in 1797. There has been the supposition that the bridge was built by the farmer-architect, Alexander Stevens (c1730-96) who according to his Gentleman's Magazine obituarist, "in the course of the last 40 years, erected more stone bridges, and other buildings in water, than any other man in these kingdoms... The North of England and Scotland exhibit numberless works of his execution". There is an undated design for a bridge in the RIBA collection of drawings for the Blackadder estate. It is not known whether this was for this particular bridge, or for one actually in the vicinity of Blackadder House, which lies a couple of miles downstream. The bridge is a good example of a large single arch bridge of the later 18th century. It has a 70ft span, which is quite unusually large, although not the largest, in Scotland for this date.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17852866

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair