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MHG45526 - Mound Bridge, Loch Fleet

Summary

1815-18 Thomas Telford bridge with later alterations by Joseph Mitchell, 1837.

Type and Period (4)

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Full Description

Thomas Telford-designed "stagecoach" bridge which has a series of sluice gates to prevent seawater getting upstream into the Mound aldergrove swamps. This area included land reclaimed by a 1,000 yd embankment, which became known as The Mound, constructed by Sutherland Estates in 1816 to carry the new Parlimentary road over Loch Fleet.
(Press & Journal, 15/01/02)
Information provided by J Aitken: 16/01/02

The pent up waters of Loch Fleet are drained by an impressive series of sluice gates (four in 1816, increased to six in 1837 by Joseph Mitchell) in the six-span bridge. Each arch is fitted with a wooden non-returnable flap valve which prevents sea water from flowing up-river while allowing fresh water to drain away. A system of chains and pulleys operate the sluices, the winding gear housed in small stone huts each side of the bridge <1>.

Stone built bridge with 12 sluice gates, two below each arch of bridge. The arches have a timber panel cover each on east side of Telford’s bridge. A series of metal winches extend out from the bridge above each sluice gate. Two winch buildings at either side of bridge consist of small single storey buildings with a slanted corrugated iron roof. <2>

Several pictures of the Mound sluice gates and components are pictured on the Dornoch Historylinks Image Library (seach Nos. 10363-10367 at the link below). The winch for operating the sluice gates was repositioned outside the Historylinks Museum in 2004. <3>

Sources/Archives (4)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 7754 9821 (27m by 24m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH79NE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	GOLSPIE

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Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

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