Tucked away in a grassy valley separating a modern housing estate and a retirement village, what is believed to be Scotland’s oldest surviving iron bridge is enjoying a new lease of life after a thorough restoration.
Spanning the Dighty Water, to the east of Dundee, the Georgian cast and wrought iron Linlathen East Iron Bridge dates from around 1804 and, in addition to holding the British record for longevity, is amongst the oldest in the world.
It was erected sometime between 1795 and 1810, although 1804 appears to be the date favoured by most. The architect is unknown but it is fairly certain it was constructed by a foundry in Dundee and then erected on site.
The central 2.75 metre wide and 11 metre long span features spandrels of plain concentric circles, which diminish in size towards the crown, and delicate fencing topped with acorn finials. On either bank the iron span meets abutments of ashlar sandstone topped with stone balusters. It is said that achieving an 11 metre long single span in iron was quite an achievement for the time. The gently arching deck is wooden.
The bridge originally carried an estate road over the river and was one of two approaches to Linlathen House. While the mansion was demolished in the 1980s, the bridge lived on, although in an increasingly decrepit and unsafe state, and it found its way on to the Buildings at Risk Register in 2003. Rudimentary strengethening using timber beams allowed agricultural vehicles and farm animals to cross but it was closed to the public in 2000.
The construction of a housing estate on farmland to the south brought new hope for the bridge. A bid to restore the Category A listed structure began in 2005 and, with £380,000 from housebuilders Miller Homes, £50,000 from Historic Scotland and the remainder of the £450,000 cost funded by project leaders Dundee City Council, restoration began in May 2011 and was completed the following year. Sadly the bridge was vandalised in 2021 and a further £40,000 had to be spent on making good the damage.
It now forms an integral part of a well used local path (Dundee City Council, North East Countryside Core Path 23) running north from East Balgillo roundabout, on the A92, to East Pitkerro and the neighbouring county of Angus, providing the link between Strathyre Avenue and Linlathen.
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