OS1/19/2/39A

Continued entries/extra info

[page] 39A

[Note referring to line 7, sixteenth century] -- Present Bridge
[Note referring to line 5, 1448] -- Old Bridge

Of the Old Bridge of Dee

Mr Kennedy in his Annals of Aberdeen, says, This Bridge was among the earliest and most important works
of public utility, reared by the hand of benevolence, for the advantage not only of the town of Aberdeen, but of the whole
country, and is a lasting monument of the liberality of the original founders. At an early period, the inhabitants of
Aberdeen seem to have experienced the inconvenience of passing the river Dee, by the common ferry, which in ancient times
was at the Craiglug. About the year 1448, the Alderman and baillies designed a bridge over the river, a little above this
ferry, and it would Seem Some progress had been made in the undertaKing, but was afterwards relinquished by the Community
- About the beginning of the Sixteenth Century, William Elphinston, bishop of Aberdeen, projected the present bridge, of
seven arches, over the river, distant about 2 miles from the town, and commenced the building, but died before the
structure was far advanced. Bishop Gavin Dunbar, on Succeeding to the episcopal see, recommenced the worK, which
had remained neglected from the time of the founders death, and, in the space of a few years, completed the building
upon his own expense. Having accomplished this noble undertaKing about the year 1527, he, sometime afterwards,
delivered over the bridge to the charge of the magistrates, council and community, and, at the sametime, presented to them
a grant of the lands of Ardlair, in the parish of Clat, as a fund for supporting the fabric, and for rebuilding
it at any future period, if that should become necessary.
In this age of superstition, according to the custom of the time, the bridge was provided with a chapel, dedicated
to the Virgin Mary, erected on the north end, that travellers who passed and repassed, might have an opportunity
of exercising solemn acts of devotion at its altar, of which Sir William Rae was chaplin. There belonged to this
institution a silver Crucifix, chalice of silver, an image of the Virgin, over gilt, three embroidered napkins, and other
Sacred utensils, some of which were preserved at the Reformation, when the chapel was probably demolished.
On the South end of this fabric, there was, in ancient times, a porch, with a watch tower over it, in
which the Citizens mounted guard, in the time of commotion in the country, or on the alarm of the plague
spreading northwards, that strangers might be prevented from entering the town, without obtaining permission -
In the time of the civil war, in the seventeenth century, the bridge was often a disputed post by contending
armies. In the year 1679, the porch was ornamented with the town's coat of arms, and that of Bishop Elphinston
the original founder placed over it. About the beginning of the eighteenth century the bridge had fallen so
much into decay, that it became necessary to rebuild the greatest part of it, particularly the arches & superstructure
- In the year 1718, the work was commenced, and in the course of the four subsequent years, completed,
as it stands at the present time. The stones used in the worK were imported, by sea from Moray, and
from the frith of Forth, which circumstance will account for the materials of which the bridge is composed
being different in quality from any in this part of the Country. It was finished on the south end with
an elegant porch of dressed stone, almost of the same construction with the original one; but, about the year
1773, it was removed for the purpose of affording more convenient access to carriages. the bridge is a
light building, of seven semicircular ribbed arches; but although it is regularly and substantially built, according
to
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