Bervie Bridge

The Bervie water flows into the North Sea at the northern end of Inverbervie. Two bridges span the river as the A92 heads north out of town, Bervie Bridge and Bervie Jubilee Bridge. However, on the river bank far below these structures, the remains of a third crossing can still be seen, with the central pier of the two-arch bridge built in 1695 still visible.

Bervie Bridge

The old Bervie Bridge

The older of the two surviving bridges is Bervie Bridge, built in 1799 and crossing the river in a single arched span. Whilst the roadway seems to be wide enough for two-way traffic, the approaches would have had sharp bends, and a steeper gradient on the northern side. This gradient has led to the northern end of the bridge being blocked by the retaining wall carrying the A92, and just a simple set of steps allows pedestrians to use the bridge. The bridge and its abutments have a multitude of iron tie-rods visible on the faces, and these were mostly inserted fairly soon after the bridge opened, apparently due to failings in the construction where the plans had not been properly followed.

Bervie Jubilee Bridge

Bervie Jubilee Bridge

Bervie Jubilee Bridge was built between 1933 and 1935, named in honour of the silver jubilee of King George V. The bridge consists of 7 concrete arch spans, built both on a curve and a slight gradient to provide a much smoother route for traffic. The bridge is a dramatic structure, although this is largely thanks to the height of the massive tapering piers rising out of the small gorge cut by the River Bervie. In fact, when looked at more closely, the bridge is similar to many built across Scotland in the 1930s.

Faced in stone, the shallow arches span fairly ordinary distances between the piers. The second, 4th and 6th arches sit like massive keystones, wedged between their piers, with expansion gaps at either end. Ornate lamps rise above each pier on both sides of the road, a roadway which is a wide S2 with pavements on both sides.