MHG2778 - Suspension Bridge - Bridge of Oich
Summary
A C19 suspension bridge over the River Oich.
Type and Period (1)
- SUSPENSION BRIDGE (Post Medieval - 1560 AD to 1900 AD)
Protected Status
Full Description
A C19 century suspension bridge across the River Oich.
The bridge was listed at Catgeory A in 1971.
(location cited as NH 337 036). Built circa 1850, probably by James Dredge. A double cantilever chain suspension bridge with coursed bullfaced rubble battered pylons linked by round-headed pedimented arches. Wooden decked bridge. Bridge is now disused (1983). Similar to Dredge bridges at Inverness.
SDD List; J R Hume 1977.
The bridge was Scheduled by Historic Scotland in 1996. <1>
Historic Scotland purchased the bridge from the Glen Garry Estate in June 1996 and commissioned a major restoration programme so that it could be re-opened as a walkway. The restoration included structural repairs and new planking. <2>
This bridge formerly carried a public road over the River Oich at Aberchalder.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 22 July 1997.
A series of small trenches were opened by Kirkdale Archaeology on the Oich suspension bridge in advance of groundworks to strengthen the poles anchoring the bridge in place. Forty-eight of the anchors were uncovered, alongside possible traces of an earlier surface below the present tarmac. Sponsor: Historic Scotland. <3>
The listing and scheduling were reviewed by Historic Scotland in 2016 as part of the Dual Designations Project. The site was not visited but it was recommended that the bridge be de-scheduled but remain a listed building. <4>
The bridge was de-scheduled by Historic Environment Scotland in 2017. <5>
Bridge crosses the parishes of Boleskine and Abertarff, Inverness and Kilmonivaig, Lochaber.
For Aberchalder swing bridge (NH 3384 0352) and Bridge of Oich (NH 3368 0349), see NH30SW 9 and 10, respectively.
Sources/Archives (7)
- --- SHG1480 Text/Publication/Article: Hume, J R. 1977. 'Scottish suspension bridges', Scot Archaeol Forum Vol. 8 1976, p.91-105. Scot Archaeol Forum. 91-105. 91-105.
- --- SHG2332 Text/Publication/Volume: Hume, J R. 1977. The industrial archaeology of Scotland 2: The Highlands and Islands. Paper (Original). 204.
- <1> SHG27973 Text/Designation Notification/Scheduled Monument: Historic Scotland. 1996. Entry in the Schedule of Monuments: Bridge of Oich, suspension bridge, and embankment. Historic Scotland. 29/08/1996. Digital and original.
- <2> SHG27971 Text/Publication/Article/Newspaper Article: Press and Journal. 1997. Bridge of Oich restoration. Press and Journal 02.05.1997. Original and digital.
- <3> SHG1310 Text/Publication/Article: Ewart and Radley, G and A. 1997. 'Old Oich suspension bridge (Boleskine & Abertarff parish), archaeological assessment', Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1997, p.45. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. 45. 45.
- <4> SHG27972 Text/Designation Notification/Scheduled Monument: Historic Environment Scotland. 2017. Assessment for Dual designations Project: Bridge of Oich, suspension bridge and embankment. Historic Environment Scotland. 25/07/2017. Digital.
- <5> SHG27974 Text/Designation Notification/Scheduled Monument: Historic Environment Scotland. 2017. Scheduled Monument Descheduling Notification - SM90343. Historic Environment Scotland. 07/12/2017. Digital.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NH 3379 0359 (102m by 79m) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NH30SW |
| Civil Parish | BOLESKINE AND ABERTARFF |
| Geographical Area | INVERNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (3)
- http://kweimar.de/Bilder_XML.php?ket=02_06 (View more information on this bridge from a website about Highland Bridges)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1872 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/12216 (View HES Canmore entry for this site)
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