Douglas McMann
Well-Known Member
...after an enforced hiatus because of a sickly hard drive, managed to get back into the swing...
This is the "old" Bridge of Dee, downstream from Braemar.
This bridge dates back to 1753 and was built by General Caulfeild as part of the military road from Perthshire through the mountains to Speyside. However, after just over a century it was superceded.
The main reason behind this appears to be Queen Victoria, as in 1852 she and her husband Albert, had bought Balmoral.
The old main road through Deeside ran along the south side of the river between Ballater and Braemar, with the Old Bridge of Dee connecting to the military road which crossed from the north bank. However, the old South Deeside Road ran very close to the Queen’s new castle, and concerned about her privacy she, or perhaps more precisely, her Government approved the new Turnpike act in 1855 which saw a new road built along the north bank of the river, and the present Invercauld Bridge constructed to connect it to the old road into Braemar.
This is the "old" Bridge of Dee, downstream from Braemar.
This bridge dates back to 1753 and was built by General Caulfeild as part of the military road from Perthshire through the mountains to Speyside. However, after just over a century it was superceded.
The main reason behind this appears to be Queen Victoria, as in 1852 she and her husband Albert, had bought Balmoral.
The old main road through Deeside ran along the south side of the river between Ballater and Braemar, with the Old Bridge of Dee connecting to the military road which crossed from the north bank. However, the old South Deeside Road ran very close to the Queen’s new castle, and concerned about her privacy she, or perhaps more precisely, her Government approved the new Turnpike act in 1855 which saw a new road built along the north bank of the river, and the present Invercauld Bridge constructed to connect it to the old road into Braemar.
