Civil Engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders
Date 2007
Event ID 578424
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Publication Account
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/578424
Langholm Bridge, now carrying the A79 road over the Esk, was built in ca.1775–78, probably jointly by local stonemasons Andrew Thomson and Robert Hotson. Its chief claim to fame is that Telford worked on the bridge as an apprentice mason to Thomson. Many people have searched its stonework for his mason mark. The mark on the east abutment recorded in 1996, which may or may not be Telford’s, differs from the earliest known publication of his mark by Smiles in 1861 who does not give his source. Telford also carved the headstone
of his father’s grave in Westerkirk churchyard. The bridge, typical for its date, has three segmental masonry arches, each of 41 ft span. The road is on an incline over the bridge and the rise–span ratios of the arches vary slightly to suit this. The masonry is uncoursed grey rubble with ashlar dressings, recessed arch rings and
pointed cutwaters. In 1880 the bridge was widened to 24 ft by John Hyslop with the addition of footways on each side carried on Duchess Bridge cantilevered iron brackets. In 1995–96 widening and strengthening work complementing the original design attracted a Saltire Civil Engineering Awards design commendation.
R Paxton and J Shipway 2007
Reproduced from 'Civil Engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' with kind permission from Thomas Telford Publishers.
