Publication Account

Date 1979

Event ID 590602

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Publication Account

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/590602

In one of the two last and greatest of the stone bridges designed by Telford, the Dean Bridge over the Water of Leith at Edinburgh, the arches are once again of unusual design. Foundation difficulties forced Telford to modify his original three-span design for the Dean Bridge to one of four arches, each of 90ft [27.4m] span and with a maximum height above water of 106ft [32.3m]. The main arches carrying the roadway rise 30ft [9.1m], but the footpaths upon either side are supported on secondary arches which have a span of 96ft [29.3m], a rise of only 10ft [3m], and spring from the piers at a height 20ft [6.1m] above the springing of the main arches. It seems likely that it was the praise which greeted his Over Bridge that led Telford to adopt this design, for although the effect is similar it has no practical motive. On the other hand, by masking the more massive main arches, the delicate footway arches do impart a deceptive impression of lightness to the structure. In order to reduce weight, the tall piers are one of the finest examples of that hollow wall construction which Telford first used at Pont Cysyllte [Pontcysyllte aqueduct, Wales]. Charles Atherton was Telford's resident engineer for the Dean Bridge and John Gibb of Aberdeen the contractor. It was completed in 1831. After so great a number of suicides had flung themselves from it that it was nicknamed the 'Bridge of Sighs', the parapet was heightened.

L T C Rolt 1979.