Brig O' Balgownie

Today I returned to look at the Bridge, to see if I could find a different view, which I think I have captured (or not)!

History

Aberdeen, Brig O' Balgownie.

Probably started about 1272 and completed after interruption long after 1294, probably in early 14th century.

Richard Cementarius, the King's Master mason, Alderman of Aberdeen in 1272 may have been engaged in the building of the bridge, from Bishop's revenues in the time of Bishop Chein (1285-1328).

The bridge was not finished until long after Richard's death, and when it was done it was accredited to King Robert the Bruce rather than to Chein.

The Bridge is a single span Gothic pointed arch with a span of 6934 ft, one of the largest of its kind in Britain at the time, with a roadway 11 ft wide between parapets. The arch is constructed of sandstone and the spandrels and parapet walls are mainly of granite.

Although the bridge formed an important element in the road system northward from Aberdeen it was poorly maintained after the Reformation. A plaque on the bridge states that it was almost totally rebuilt by the Town Council in 1605.

In 1605 Alexander Hay executed a Charter of Mortification
for its maintenance which later became the Bridge of Don Fund. This fund not only financed major repairs to the bridge in the 17th and 19th centuries, but also provided capital for the construction of a number of other bridges in northeast Scotland.