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
Abbey St Bathans, Suspension Footbridge
Suspension Bridge (19th Century)
Site Name Abbey St Bathans, Suspension Footbridge
Classification Suspension Bridge (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Whiteadder Water
Canmore ID 58772
Site Number NT76SE 21
NGR NT 75868 62354
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/58772
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Abbey St Bathans
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Berwickshire
- Former County Berwickshire
Project (2007)
This project was undertaken to input site information listed in 'Civil engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' by R Paxton and J Shipway, 2007.
Publication Account (2007)
Originally a wrought-iron footbridge with spans of 24 ft– 60 ft–60 ft, erected over the Whitadder in ca.1833. It was designed by and erected under the direction of Robert Stevenson for local landowner George Turnbull. The 60 ft trusses were a development of the concept of Stevenson’s Cramond Bridge, Edinburgh, proposal of 1820 and later bridges at Glasgow and Micklewood by his friend James Smith of Deanston, which envisaged the deck resting on rather than being supported from the chains of a suspension bridge. This design developed into a standard footbridge made and widely marketed by C. D. Young & Co. from 1850 (see Teviot Viaduct 2-29). The bridge was closed in 1925.
The present cable-stay suspension timber bridge (NT76SE 62), which utilises some of the original side pier masonry was erected by the army in ca.1983.
R Paxton and S Shipway 2007
Reproduce from 'Civil Engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' with kind permission of Thomas Telford Publishers.
Sbc Note (15 April 2016)
Visibility: Standing structure or monument.
Information from Scottish Borders Council
