Stirling, Bridge

NS79SE 1 7972 9461

(NS 7972 9461) Site of Bridge (NR)

OS 6" map (1942)

Bridge [NR]

OS 1:10,000 map, 1982.

For successor bridges, see NS79SE 2 and NS79SE 185.

The foundations of two piers of a bridge earlier than the 15th century one described under NS79SE 2 were discovered in 1905 some 65 yds upstream from the later bridge. The piers were about 28' long by 14' broad; they were 25' apart, the centre of the NE one being about 25 and 30 yds from the right bank. The above details were confirmed during the drought of 1955.

The word "pons" appears on three mid-15th century maps, and a bridge is represented on the burgh seal of Stirling in 1296, one year earlier than Wallace's battle in which the breaking down the bridge is traditionally an episode. The tradition implies that the bridge was wooden, and the representation of a stone bridge on the seal is probably a convention. In 1304 an allusion to boats suggests no bridge was available; in 1305 a bridge,, presumably of timber, was repaired. Between 1361 and 1391 a ferry replaced the bridge. In 1407 the bridge was said to be very ruinous. The work carried out then was evidently of some importance, and payments to the fabric are recorded in 1408 and 1415. This structure may again have been of wood, as the possibility of it being broken is mentioned by an English spy between 1424 and 1437 (see also NS79SE 2).

RCAHMS 1963, visited 1955

Remains of the bridge are located upstream from Stirling Old Bridge. The stone piers belonging to this bridge still lie below water but are not visible at normal low tide level. They were located and surveyed in the early 1990's.

Site recorded by GUARD during the Coastal Assessment Survey for Historic Scotland, 'The Firth of Forth from Dunbar to the Coast of Fife' 1996.

No trace of this bridge is visible at normal low tide.

Visited by OS (JP) 6 December 1973

Two massive stone piers still remain in the bed of the River Forth. They have been located and accurately surveyed. The NE pier has a flat top measuring about 8.4m by 4.2m; at low water it is less than 0.5m below water level, and is surrounded by water nearly 2m deep. The SW pier is covered by an extensive sand bank and was located by probing.

It is marginally larger than the other pier, and its top is almost at the same level. The piers are upstream from the Old Bridge of Stirling and at an angle of about 30 degrees to it. These piers probably belong to the wooden bridge destroyed after the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297.

R Page 1992.

NS 797 946 As previously reported (Page 1992) two stone piers probably belonging to the ancient bridge destroyed after the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 had been located and surveyed. These lay across the river at an unexpected angle.

In September 1996 a sonar survey by the British Geological Survey indicated another possible pier near the W bank of the river, under a large sand bank. In April 1997 two members of Stirling University Sub-Aqua Club probed the sand bank with long iron rods, and confirmed the pier indicated by sonar, and located another, previously unknown. Accurate survey revealed that all four piers lie on the same straight line. The Common Seal of Stirling Burgh, recorded in 1296, shows eight piers. Assuming this is correct, the search continues for the remaining piers.

Excavations on the river banks to look for abutments or approach roads have so far been inconclusive, except that at NS 7966 9456 a group of large mortared stones were found in line with the piers in the river. These stones have no apparent connection with building 109, now demolished, nor with earlier cottages nearby indicated on a map of 1820. The stones had been somewhat diminished by a drainage pipe driven through one side, but could be part of an abutment of the bridge. Excavation on the opposite bank of the river at NS 7978 9470 revealed previously unknown drystone pitching, installed to prevent bank erosion, but now 2-3m from the river's edge. This revetment cannot safely be removed; deeper excavation behind it will be needed to continue investigation of approaches to the ancient bridge.

Examination of Pier No 1 standing out of the river bed clear of the sand bank, by Dr Martin of the Scottish Institute of Maritime Studies of St Andrews University, indicated that some of the masonry appeared to consist of dressed stones. The pier was partly collapsed; trapped timber that was recovered was apparently snagged driftwood, unsuitable for dating studies.

Sponsors: Historic Scotland, Stirling Ancient Bridge Trust, supported by Stirling Council, Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling & Trossachs Tourist Board, Bank of Scotland, Glasgow Archaeological Society, Gordon Fraser Trust, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Mr G Dixon.

R Page and L Main 1997.

Scheduled as 'Stirling, remains of former bridge to N of Stirling Old Bridge... the remains, identified by underwater investigations, of a multi-span wooden bridge with stone reinforced piers running diagonally across the present channel of the River Forth, just upstream from Stirling Old Bridge, which it must, on historical evidence, pre-date.'

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 12 February 2004.