Perth Bridge | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Pictured in 2024 | |
| Coordinates | 56°23′56″N3°25′31″W / 56.3990°N 3.4252°W /56.3990; -3.4252 |
| Carries | Two lanes of theA85 |
| Crosses | River Tay |
| Locale | Perth, Scotland |
| Other name(s) | Smeaton's Bridge The Old Bridge The Auld Brig |
| Maintained by | Perth and Kinross Council |
| Heritage status | Category A listed |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch |
| History | |
| Opened | 1771 (254 years ago) (1771) |
| Location | |
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Perth Bridge (also known asSmeaton's Bridge, locally,the Old Bridge, and in the local dialect of Scots,the Auld Brig) is a toll-freebridge in the city ofPerth, Scotland. ACategory A listed structure,[1] it spans theRiver Tay, connecting Perth, on the western side of the river, toBridgend, on its eastern side, carrying both automotive and pedestrian traffic of West Bridge Street (theA85). An earlier bridge was demolished at the same location in 1621 (its location marked by a stone tablet at the bottom of the High Street),[2] and many unsuccessful attempts were made to replace it. A subscription was started byJames VI and several noblemen to help with the construction cost, but the king's death in 1625 suspended the scheme and a series offerryboats were instead used.[3]
The replacement bridge was completed in October 1771,[4][5] which places it in theGeorgian era (George Street, which leads up to the bridge from the city, was built at the same time);[6] however, its plaque states the year in which construction began, 1766, as its "built" date. The engineer of its construction wasJohn Smeaton, after whom the bridge is colloquially named.
Funded byThomas Hay, 9th Earl of Kinnoull, the government, and public subscription, the bridge was put to the test three years after its completion. In February 1774, during a quick thaw, broken ice became wedged under the arches and created a naturaldam. Large sections of Perth, including both of itsInches, were flooded. The bridge, however, stood firm.[7] It has survived many subsequent floods, and marks documenting these levels are visible on one of itspiers.[8]
An increase in traffic resulted in the bridge being widened in 1869 by A.D. Stewart. Its stoneparapets were removed, and footpaths projected over iron brackets.[7]
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