There has been a bridge over the Allan Water for at least 500 years. It was originally a single span, narrow, and steeply arched bridge. Then Victoria arrived and the ‘healing powers’ of the Spa changed everything.
[1830 map] The narrow bridge over the Allan Water was at 45 degrees to the route south:
December 1841:
Ordnance Survey map, 1861:
An artist’s impression, 1875:
November 1934:
February 1935:
November 1934:
January 1935:
February 1935:
A watercolour by Hugh Green:
February 1938:
October 1939:
The first vehicle to cross a NEW bridge – finaly built in 1958 [construction had been delayed by 20 years as a consequence of WWII] – was a refuse truck.
I would like to dedicate this post to Malcolm Allan.