Gargunnock, Bridgend, Iron Footbridge

This project was undertaken to input site information listed in 'Civil engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' by R Paxton and J Shipway, 2007.

This bridge is a blend of ancient and modern, some parts having had an earlier existence in an iron bridge with

timber deck over the Kelty Water at Drymen (NS 5350 9630). Central Regional Council Roads Dept. recognised

the uniqueness of the cast-iron trusses, which were to be scrapped, and salvaged them for re-use at the present site. A feature of particular interest is that both the top and bottom chord members of the trusses are of hollow circular cross-section, the only known instance of this practice in a Scottish bridge. The castings, which are of uncertain date, possibly mid-19th century, are a tribute both to the pattern-makers’ art and to the workmanship of the foundry-men. The original Kelty Water bridge may have been built in 1826 by James Shanks.

The present bridge, re-erected over Gargunnock Burn in 1975, has a clear span of 28 ft 9 in. and carries a footway 4 ft wide. The deck is now of concrete.Each truss comprises eight panels, six of which are 5 ft long by 4 ft 1 in. deep, the end panels being rather shorter. They all have diagonal bracing of cruciform cross-section.

R Paxton and J Shipway 2007

Reproduced from 'Civil Engineering Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' with kind permission from Thomas Telford Publishers.