Photograph
Google map
Wikimedia Commons

Craigmin Bridge, within the grounds of Letterfourie House, in Moray, Scotland, once formed part of the main approach road to the house, spanning the Burn of Letterfourie. The bridge has existed in its current form since about 1773,[1] and was probably designed by Robert Adam, the designer of the house. It was designated a Category A listed building in 1972.[2]

The lower, single-arched span supports two semi-circular arches above, the upper pair linked by a mural passage, with a shallow round-headed niche above in the spandrelRoughly triangular space above and on either side of an arch.. The upper, two-span tier may have been built on top of an existing, single-span structure, probably because a road leading up the ravine from the level of the lower tier, while suitable for foot traffic, would have been too steep for a carriage to negotiate.[2]

The span of the lower arch is 36 feet 6 inches (11 m), and each of the upper arches has a 28-foot (9 m) span.[2] The bridge’s unusual design has variously been described as “remarkable”,[1] “curious”,[3] and “wildly picturesque’.[4] A door underneath the bridge gives access to a small cell built into the structure.[5]

References



Works cited


{4928910:SI8IK3DR};{4928910:7M6LQDHU};{4928910:C78XVQAP};{4928910:SI8IK3DR};{4928910:D3PW7CJ6} modern-language-association creator asc 1 0 27655