Measured Survey
Date 7 December 2007 - 19 August 2008
Event ID 575925
Category Recording
Type Measured Survey
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/575925
NO 7245 6217 During renovation work, 7 December 2007–19 August 2008, a survey of masons’ marks was undertaken, partly from scaffolding and partly from a cradle slung under the arches.
The bridge, designed by John Smeaton and constructed between 1770 and 1775, has eight arches. A total of 947 marks has been recorded. Fourteen possible masons have been identified, seven of whom worked on all parts of the bridge. Two marks were observed only on the foundations levels and the remainder occur less frequently and may belong to masons who were only employed for parts of the project.
A second series of marks which appear on the same stones as the masons’ marks appear to be location marks. The letter M occurs only on the foundation levels. Letters A–D occur in sequence, with D for the outer arches, moving inwards to A on the stones of the central river span. The underside of the central span also bears a relief-carved date of 1774, presumably when the final arch was completed.
Report: Aberdeenshire SMR and RCAHMS
Funder: Aberdeenshire Council
HK and JC Murray (Murray Archaeological Services Ltd), 2008
