Old Blair Bridge over Banvie Burn, Blair Atholl, Perth and Kinross

Description

The bridge is an early 18th century round-arched military bridge with a later raised carriageway. The bridge remains in use and crosses the Banvie Burn within the Blair Atholl estate policies. The 18th century military bridge is rubble built with roughly dressed voussoirs forming the arch. It is sprung from rubble masonry abutments on bedrock on either side of the river, but these have been altered with the eastern abutment encased in concrete. The heightened carriageway does not extend across the entire width of the bridge and the southern quarter of the carriageway of the 18th century bridge is visible where a pathway has been maintained. The southern parapet survives and extends beyond both ends of the bridge where it flares outwards to form the approaches. The later heightened carriageway is raised up on rubble masonry walls that extend above the carriageway to form high parapets.

Historical Development

There was an estimated total of 1700kms of military road built in Scotland (approximately 400km by General Wade and 1300km by Major Caulfeild) between the early 1720s and the late 1750s.

The first programmes of work started in 1725 Under Wade's command, Repairs were made to various fortifications including Edinburgh Castle and at Fort William and new forts were built at Inverness (Fort George) and Killihuimen (Fort Augustus). Road communications and connections were improved between the garrisons at Fort William, Fort Augustus and Fort George. The roads programme then focused on expanding the network between Dunkeld and Inverness (later known as 'The Great North Road') with branches connecting Crieff to the Great North Road at Dalnacardoch (later known as 'The Second Great North Road') and Fort Augustus to the Great North Road at Dalwhinnie. The second major programme of works was overseen by Wade's successor, Major William Caulfeild, with branches constructed, from 1741 onwards, between: Crieff and Stirling, an incomplete build between Dumbarton and Inverary, Stirling to Fort William, Coupar Angus to Fort George, and Amulree to Dunkeld.

This bridge is likely to relate to an early phase of road building – between Old Blair and Dalnacardoch (in 1728). The bridge was later altered as part of developments within the policies of Blair Castle by the construction of a raised carriageway to meet the adjoining estate road. The alterations date to before 1861 when they are shown on the Ordanance Survey 1st edition map.

Statement of Interest

This bridge meets the criteria of special architectural or historic interest for the following reasons:

The design is characteristic of military bridge construction of the period. It is a particularly notable example because of its later adaption as part of laying out the policies of Blair Castle. The later alteration of the bridge with its heightened carriageway and path at the original deck level is an unusual design feature.

Forming part of a wider network of contemporary 18th century military infrastructure, the grouping is also of special interest.

Although surviving examples of 18th century bridges are not particularly rare in Scotland, this example is important as it reflects the relationship between estate and state – the connections made between the military and landowners in the Highlands of Scotland. It forms part of a larger military network that has had a lasting impact on both the culture and physical landscape of the Scottish Highlands. It was to be later adapted to form a feature within the estate policies.

The bridge is of social historical interest, as the large-scale military building programme under which it was built, had a significant impact on Highland culture. The network also tells us about the wider political and military situation in Scotland in the mid 18th century, during the period of the Jacobite Risings.

The bridge and the wider network of routes has close historical associations with people and events of national importance. The military road building programme had very significant political and social impacts on the Highlands of Scotland during the 18th century. The roads and bridges are directly associated with Major General George Wade and Major William Caulfeild, who oversaw the planning and construction of the network.

Architectural Interest

Design

The bridge has the characteristic design of military bridges built as part of the early 18th century road building programme under Major General Wade. These bridges were designed to be built quickly, usually by soldiers of various British Army regiments or contracted groups of local men. In this case, it is likely that the estate workforce was employed in building the military bridges within the policies of Blair Castle. The bridges were built using locally available materials and often the same formwork was reused for efficiency. They were specifically designed to accommodate heavy loads including troops, horses and wagons. Their functional purpose is reflected in their relatively plain design, which features no decorative stonework or embellishments. This was typical of stone-built bridges of the period.

This bridge is a good example of a Wade bridge built within an estate, showing a flared parapet and simple arched construction although the structure was later altered through the construction of the later raised carriageway). It formed part of a much wider network of military roads and bridge; it is estimated that 940 bridges were constructed as part of this network. The later alteration of the bridge with its heightened carriageway and path at the original deck level is an unusual design feature.

Age and Rarity

Although surviving examples of 18th century bridges are not particularly rare in Scotland, the bridge is important as it is a largely unaltered example of its date and type and forms part of a larger military network that has had a lasting impact on both the culture and physical landscape of the Scottish Highlands. The survival of this bridge compliments other elements of the wider road network in this area, notably surviving stretches of carriageway to the north, towards Dalncardoch and to the south towards Dunkeld, as well as its proximity to the Kingshouse at Old Blair. The relationship between these elements add to the special interest of this bridge, as does its later alteration as part of the development of the Blair Castle estate polices.

Social historical interest

The bridge is of social historical interest, as the large-scale military building programme under which it was built, had a significant impact on Highland culture. As a result of the 1715 Jacobite rising, the government saw the discontent towards the Hanoverian rule and began to impose control by constructing town and city garrisons and building permanent barracks.

After Culloden, Caulfeild's road building programme continued in a much larger scale to further assert Hanoverian control in Scotland. Some 15,000 government troops were stationed in Scotland and Caulfeild was assigned engineers and large numbers of men to work on the roads. This increase in control of the Highlands is linked to the period of severe Government repression after Culloden which saw Highland culture repressed and the clan system dismantled.

Association with people or events of national importance

The bridge has close historical associations with people of national importance. In 1724, General Wade was instructed to "narrowly inspect the situation of the Highlands" (Salmond, 42). In same year, Wade reported back to the King and was thereafter appointed as Commander of Forces in Northern Britain. He was succeeded in 1739 by Major William Caulfeild, who was appointed Inspector of Roads. Caulfeild had previously worked under Wade as a young officer and was then appointed Inspector of Roads.

Further association with these roads is indicated in their use by Bonnie Prince Charlie and during the Jacobite forces during the uprising of 1745. Wade's roads into the Highlands were utilised by the government forces but also had the unseen consequence of allowing the Jacobite army to move quickly into the Lowlands. When moving back into the Highlands in 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie sent his troops on the Crieff to Dalnacardoch road and sent the artillery along the easier Dunkeld to Inverness road. Both the Jacobite and British forces continued to use the Great North Road and Second Great North Road until defeat of the Jacobite forces at Culloden in April 1746.

Statutory address and listed building record revised in 2021. Previously listed as 'Old Blair Bridge over Banvie Burn'.

External Links

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