Stirling Old Bridge

Stirling Old Bridge is a stone bridge which crosses the River Forth. For over 300 years it provided the lowest crossing point of the Forth and so had strategic importance.^[1]

Old Bridge
Coordinates	56°7′43.03″N 3°56′12.78″W
Carries	foot and bicycle traffic
Crosses	River Forth
Locale	Stirling
Heritage status	Category A listed building
Characteristics
Material	Stone
Total length	268 feet (82 m)
No. of spans	4
History
Construction end	circa 1500
Location

History

The stone bridge was constructed on rubble foundations around 1500^[2] and replaced earlier wooden bridges, including that on which the Battle of Stirling Bridge was fought.

The bridge originally had arches at either end and a defensive gate at the end nearer the burgh. Tolls were levied on goods being taken across the bridge.^[3]: 114

In December 1745, Brigadier-General William Blakeney, the lieutenant governor of Stirling Castle, had one of the bridge arches destroyed to hinder the movement of the Jacobite Army.^[3]: 160 The destroyed arch was rebuilt in 1749.^[4][5]

In May 1833 the adjacent new road bridge was opened to traffic and the Old Bridge was closed to wheeled traffic.^{[1][3]: 196}

The bridge was designated as a Category A Listed Building in 1965.^[2]