The Brig o'Balgownie is the oldest crossing of the Don still standing, and also the oldest bridge in Aberdeen. It dates back to 1320 and comprises a single pointed arch spanning a natural narrow point in the river and carrying a narrow roadway, now restricted to pedestrians and cyclists. Following a lack of maintenance, the town council had to substantially rebuild the bridge in 1605. This also resulted in a fund being set up to ensure there was always capital to repair the bridge, but such was the success of the fund that other bridges in the county were paid for from it.
The bridge has an unusual stepped parapet rising up to the centre, and roughly following the hump of the roadway over the arch. However, there is also a stepped string course below the parapet, but this does not follow the steps of the parapet, instead it makes do with just a couple of steps on either side of a long flat central section. The bridge served as the main route to and from the north from Aberdeen for over 5 centuries before being effectively replaced by the Bridge of Don in 1827.
