Description

Grant, Richie & Co, 1888. Partially reconstructed Orr, Watt & Co (Motherwell), 1923. Flat, parallel girder bridge with squared piers; resting on diamond shaped ashlar cutwater. Painted cast-iron with cast-iron lamp stands.

N AND S ELEVATIONS: advanced girder base resting on outer coursed ashlar walls and central diamond shaped cutwater; 16 rectangular panels forming parapet, paired horizontal parallel bands of stylised Greek Key flanking large floriate scroll detail; riveted pilaster supports with squared cushion caps holding panels. To outer flanks and centre, larger square piers with chamfered arrises, projecting square neck cope and moulded pyramid caps; central piers supporting fluted lamp shafts terminating in ball and arm finials, modern street lighting now surmounting. 3 centrally placed commemorative plaques to inner side of N elevation. Contains tarmac road with footpath to flanks.

Statement of Interest

The bridge spans the Kilmarnock Water and links West Shaw Street to McLelland Drive. Grant, Richie and Co were a Kilmarnock based engineering firm who mainly specialised in locomotives (one of which is preserved in the Scottish Mining Museum in Prestongrange). The firm, like many others, made bridges. This is an unusual example as it is a road bridge, not a railway bridge. The bridge is one of the few remaining examples of their work. The bridge was partially reconstructed by Orr, Watt & Co of Motherwell in 1923. There are 3 plaques which commemorate the construction, opening and reconstruction of the bridge. To the centre of the bridge, there are two lamp standards. They had coach lights surmounting, but their shafts were retained and converted to modern lamp standards. Originally, the east and west end of the bridge had low curved wing walls with spearhead railings. The walls and railings to the east have since been lost due to flood protection work, but a section of angled railings survives to the north west of the bridge and to the south west in front of the red brick flood wall. At some point in the past, the bridge has been widened. The bridge is now painted white and picked out in blue, although a postcard from the early 20th century shows the bridge to be of one colour. The bridge is sited to the south east of Howard Park near the Safeway store.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77777746

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

• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Old House Handbook 2 Books Bundle Collection (Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair,Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)