Building record MAB26262 - BRIDGE OF DEE
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Summary
Bridge of seven spans with dressed-stone ribbed arch rings, built in the early 16th century and consisting of seven semi-circular rib arches.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (A) 20068
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 9290 0355 (133m by 81m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ90SW |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire City |
| Civil Parish | Aberdeen |
Type and Period (7)
- BRIDGE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- BATTLE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- COAT OF ARMS (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- CHAPEL (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- GATEWAY (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- SUNDIAL (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- DATE STONE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
Full Description
Bridge of seven spans with dressed-stone ribbed arch rings, built in the early 16th century and consisting of seven semi-circular rib arches. Triangular cutwaters extended up to form semi-hexagonal pedestrian refuges which are decorated on the outer wall with coats of arms and tooled inscriptions, bearing the dates 1520 and 1525. The bridge is built of coursed granite ashlar lightly stugged with a coped parapet. There are splayed wing walls the terminations with polygonal caps and ball finials. On the southeast wing wall is a sundial, with replacement gnomen, and inscribed 'AQ MR O BW 1719', which stand for Alexander Wilson, Master of Bridge Works, 1719. The bridge was built for Bishop Dunbar in circa 1520-7 by Thomas Franche, master mason, and Alexander Galloway , master of works. It was repaired in 1718-19 by Alexander Riach, 1721 and 1773 when its south port was demolished. In was widened by four ribs on the east side in 1841-2 by engineer John Smith the original facings being replaced as far as possible. In the middle of the 16th century Lady's Chapel of the Bridge (see also NJ90SW0167, NJ90SW0531) was built near the north end and a timber port (gateway) was also added, replaced by a stone one in 1597. The chapel and port were removed towards the end of the 18th century. In 1639 the bridge was the site of a skirmish in which Montrose and the Covenanters won the bridge from the royalists. A charter dated 1384 indicates a much earlier bridge over the Dee although the exact location has not been established - see NJ90SW0041. A watching brief carried out by S Buchanan in April 2007 during groundworks for two cairns to hold site interpretation panels recorded no features or artefacts of archaeological significance.
Period Notes
Listed 12/01/1967.
Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 17/10/1984 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.
McCONNACHIE, AL, 1898, THE ROYAL DEE, pp 159-161 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1136.
ABERDEEN CITY LIBRARIES, 2005, ABERDEEN'S BRIDGES OVER THE DEE AND DON (Bibliographic reference). SAB8338.
ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT, 2007, BRIDGE OF DEE INTERPRETATION PANELS: REPORT ON THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB5624.
Mar 1 2011 , AAS/2011/2/DG3266, AAS/2011/2/DG3266 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB37245.
Author unknown, n.d., EVENING EXPRESS, 16/02/1990 (Bibliographic reference). SAB446.
Author unknown, n.d., EVENING EXPRESS, 20/01/1993 (Bibliographic reference). SAB446.
Author unknown, n.d., EVENING EXPRESS, 23/08/1989 (Bibliographic reference). SAB446.
Oct 3 1984 , DO 2A, 6A, DO 2A, 6A (Ground Photograph). SAB34057.
Oct 9 1984 , DP 14, DP 14 (Ground Photograph). SAB34058.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ACY;
- HES Listed Building Number: 20068;
- NMR Card Number: NJ90SW3;
- NRHE Numlink: 20269;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ90SW0043;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB20068 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/20269 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (10)
- --- SAB1136 Bibliographic reference: McCONNACHIE, AL. 1898. THE ROYAL DEE. pp 159-161.
- --- SAB1416 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . PRESS & JOURNAL. 17/10/1984.
- --- SAB34057 Ground Photograph: Oct 3 1984 . DO 2A, 6A. Black & White. DO 2A, 6A.
- --- SAB34058 Ground Photograph: Oct 9 1984 . DP 14. Black & White. DP 14.
- --- SAB37245 Air-oblique Photograph: Mar 1 2011 . AAS/2011/2/DG3266. Digital. AAS/2011/2/DG3266.
- --- SAB446 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. EVENING EXPRESS. 16/02/1990.
- --- SAB446 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. EVENING EXPRESS. 23/08/1989.
- --- SAB446 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. EVENING EXPRESS. 20/01/1993.
- --- SAB5624 Bibliographic reference: ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT. 2007. BRIDGE OF DEE INTERPRETATION PANELS: REPORT ON THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF. WB report.
- --- SAB8338 Bibliographic reference: ABERDEEN CITY LIBRARIES. 2005. ABERDEEN'S BRIDGES OVER THE DEE AND DON.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Record last edited
Sep 12 2025 11:57AM
