Archaeology Notes

Event ID 706860

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/706860

NS79SE 2.00 79701 94565

(NS 7970 9456) Bridge (NR)

OS 6" map, (1958).

NS79SE 2.01 NS 7975 9455 Watching Brief

For predecessor and successor bridges, see NS79SE 1 and NS79SE 185 respectively.

Location formerly entered as NS 79712 94568.

Though Simpson states that the Old Bridge was built between 1410 and 1415, the RCAHMS consider its appearance suggests a date in the 15th or early 16th century for its erection. (See also NS79SE 1). Built of squared rubble, it consists of four arches. References to the repair of the bridge in the 17th century are in the Burgh Council records. The southern arch was rebuilt in 1749, the original arch having been blown up in 1745 to prevent the Highland army entering Stirling. It was closed to wheeled traffic in 1831, when the new bridge was built (at NS 7973 9445). In good preservation, it is now under guardianship.

An excavation made in 1912 at the NE end of the bridge revealed three earlier causeways underlying the existing road; these no doubt represent attempts to ease the gradient of the access.

RCAHMS 1963, visited 1955; W D Simpson and S Piggott 1970.

The bridge is as described.

Visited by OS (JP) 6 December 1973.

(Location cited as NS 797 945). Old Bridge, 15th or 16th century, strengthened 1912-20. A particularly fine 4-span bridge with semicircular arches and triangular cutwaters; the bases of the piers are now protected by massive rubble. The arch rings are ashlar, as is some of the masonry in the spandrels. Now a Guardianship monument, and used as a footbridge only.

J R Hume 1976.

Bridge [NAR]

OS 1:10,000 map, 1982.

This site has only been partially upgraded for SCRAN. For further information, please consult the Architecture Catalogues for Stirling District.

March 1998.

Scheduled as 'Stirling Old Bridge... Stirling's late medieval bridge which spans the River Forth.'

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 23 February 2004.

This bridge is situated in the Causewayhead area and formerly carried road traffic from Stirling to the NE across the River Forth, to the N of Stirling (NS79SE 154). It is now restricted to pedestrian traffic.

The location assigned to this record defines the mispoint of the structure. The available map evidence indicates that it extends from NS c. 79664 94554 to NS c. 79742 94577.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 31 May 2006.