Langholm Bridge

Langholm Bridge

The B709 reaches the end of its journey by crossing Langholm Bridge over the River Esk to meet the A7 in Langholm. The bridge was first built in 1778, with a young Thomas Telford working as a journeyman (apprentice labourer) on the bridge. It was later widened in 1880 by removing the parapets and cantilevering iron pavements out on either side. These are topped with railings and street lamps with the date 1880 cast into them.

The bridge itself is a 3 span stone arch bridge, with the roadway descending from the east bank. This means that the arches are not identical, with the western arch being slightly smaller than the other two, and the road sitting higher above the western arch than the central one. It was originally built to allow the expansion of the town on the west bank of the Esk