Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Edinburgh, Belford Road, Belford Bridge
Road Bridge (Late 19th Century) (1887)
Site Name Edinburgh, Belford Road, Belford Bridge
Classification Road Bridge (Late 19th Century) (1887)
Alternative Name(s) Bells Mills Bridge; Water Of Leith
Canmore ID 119282
Site Number NT27SW 639
NGR NT 23793 73773
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/119282
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SW 639 23793 73773
Belford Bridge [NAT]
OS (GIS) AIB, May 2006.
Location formerly entered as NT 2379 7377.
For corresponding high-level bridge (Dean Bridge, at NT 24280 73982), see NT27SW 673.
For weir immediately upstream (to the S), see NT27SW 4599.
This bridge carries Belford Road over the Water of Leith to the SE of the Dean Orphanage.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 16 May 2006.
Project (1997)
The Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (http://www.pmsa.org.uk/) set up a National Recording Project in 1997 with the aim of making a survey of public monuments and sculpture in Britain ranging from medieval monuments to the most contemporary works. Information from the Edinburgh project was added to the RCAHMS database in October 2010 and again in 2012.
The PMSA (Public Monuments and Sculpture Association) Edinburgh Sculpture Project has been supported by Eastern Photocolour, Edinburgh College of Art, the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, Historic Scotland, the Hope Scott Trust, The Old Edinburgh Club, the Pilgrim Trust, the RCAHMS, and the Scottish Archive Network.
Field Visit (26 September 1999)
Edinburgh coat of arms, composed of a maiden and a hind either side of a shield carved with a castle. Above is an anchor, below is the inscription ribbon.
Belford Bridge was built by Blyth & Cunningham, engineers.
Inscriptions : Inscription on ribbon:
NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA
Signatures : None
Design period : 1885-1887
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0419)
Photographic Survey (1 March 2009 - 16 September 2009)
Advance works for the Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme included a photographic survey of various buildings along the Water of Leith, to record their baseline condition, and a watching brief during the relocation of services on Warriston Road, Edinburgh. Buildings photographed included : Bridges; Weirs; the view of the Longstone Inn; the view of the 19th century mining village at Longstone; the view of the colonies at Stockbridge; the Coltbridge mill lade where it survives between the Edinburgh Sports Club and the Dean Gallery. The watching brief (http://canmore.org.uk/event/999897) uncovered a cobbled surface which overlay a concrete raft. Disturbance from a network of underground services between the current ground surface and the limit of excavation rendered the preservation of in situ archaeological remains as highly unlikely. Further evidence of ground disturbance / make up was the mixed sequence of made-ground or service trench backfill which formed the bulk of the recorded deposits during the watching brief. All the above activity is interpreted as 19th to 20th century evidence of infrastructure improvements.
Information from Michael Stuart (CFA Archaeology Ltd) June 2009. OASIS ID - cfaarcha1-135247
