Eskdalemuir Bridge

Eskdalemuir Bridge

Eskdalemuir Bridge carries the B709 across the River White Esk in the tiny village of Eskdalemuir. It is a twin span stone arch bridge which climbs slightly from the east bank to the higher west bank. The central pier stands in the riverbed protected by large triangular cutwaters which rise as high as the arch springs before chamfered tops slope back below the parapets. The cutwaters and arch rings are in red stone, contrasting with the grey rubble of the main structure. A string line on the outer faces of the bridge marks the road level, touching the arch ring above the east arch but running a course above on the west arch, showing the slight gradient on the bridge. The roadway across the bridge is a narrow S2, but wide enough to retain the white centre line, unlike a lot of the route! The parapets are topped with red coping stones, and extend to the end of the structure where they are terminated by small square piers.

Curiously, the bridge carries two date stones. It is believed that the current structure dates from 1877, and incorporates the 1803 stone from its predecessor. Despite Eskdalemuir being the location of the UK's highest rainfall over a 30 min period, the bridge has survived numerous spates for well over a century.