Description

John Smith of Darnick, 1819, widened later 19th century. 2 segmental arches (one principal span and smaller flood arch to N) spanning Slitrig Water, with splayed wing walls and triangular cutwaters. Random rubble with some 20th century rebuilding to W side.

Statement of Interest

A good, prominent, example of the work of John and Smith of Darnick, using his pioneering economical method of whinstone rubble arch construction. The bridge is situated at a sharp corner on the B6399 between Hawick and Newcastleton, just S of Hawick.

John Smith (1782-1864) and his brother Thomas were the younger sons of John Smith, a mason and builder from Darnick (near Melrose). Intelligent and enterprising, they worked as architect-builders for a large number of projects in the Borders during the first half of the 19th century. They pioneered whinstone rubble arch construction without the use of ashlar and published a paper on this subject in the first volume of the RIBA Transactions. They built a number of bridges using this method, of which Crowbyres is a good example.

Matthew Stobie's Map of Roxburghshire or Tiviotdale (1770) shows a ford in this position, but a bridge is shown on Ainslie's map of 1821. The bridge was evidently widened to the W in the later 19th century, probably circa 1870. This is evident both from the Ordnance Survey maps and from the neatly dressed voussoirs on the W elevation. The clear distinction between the two evident building periods adds to the architectural interest of the bridge.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56617199

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.

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