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| Devorgilla Bridge (The Old Bridge) |
The Devorgilla Bridge in Dumfries, otherwise known as the
Old Bridge, is one of the oldest still standing in Scotland. Originally built
in 1431 replacing an older wooden structure, this picturesque six arched stone
bridge is named after Devorgilla, the mother of the Scottish King John Balliol.
Devorgilla was the founder of Balliol College, Oxford and is also known for
building the Cistercian Sweetheart Abbey, a few miles out of Dumfries, where
she was buried clasping her husband’s heart in an ivory casket.
Devorgilla Bridge was used for wheeled traffic in and out of
Galloway in the medieval times but is now serving as a pedestrian way only. The
bridge is made of local red stone like many houses in Dumfries and extends 163
feet across the river Nith connecting Dumfries and Maxwell town.
The bridge is said to have been partially damaged during
severe floods in the 17th century and was rebuilt by adding
triangular cutwaters on both of its sides in order to withstand violent
flooding.
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| Triangular cutwaters |
At the end of the bridge, on the south side, is the Old
Bridge House, which is now home to a little museum of town life. Built in 1660,
it is Dumfries’ oldest house. In the 18th century it was an inn and was
possibly a place of worship before that. The museum is open to the public from
the end of March through to the end of September, Mondays to Saturdays 10:00am
– 5:00pm and Sundays between 2:00pm and 5:00pm.
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| Old Bridge House |
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| A view of the back of the old house from whitesands
Sources;
Dumfries Time Traveller: Follow in the footsteps of Burns, Bruce and Barrie through eight centuries of Dumfries history.
J.A. Mackay (1990) - Pictoral History of Dumfries
Fortune P., McMillan H. - Dumfries : A history and celebration
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