Portland Street Suspension Bridge, River Clyde, South Portland Street, Glasgow

The Portland Street Suspension Bridge, located over the River Clyde in Glasgow, was designed by architect Alexander Kirkland and engineer George Martin. It was originally built between 1851 and 1853 to replace an early 19th-century timber footbridge. The wrought-ironwork was rebuilt in 1871 by Bell and Miller to lower the camber and increase the dip by 7 feet.

This suspension bridge features a single span of 414 feet. Its pylons are designed as classical triumphal archways, made up of fluted Ionic columns in antis, flanked by paired Doric pilasters on the bridge face, all crafted from polished honey-colored sandstone. The central arch includes a moulded archivolt and keystone, supporting an entablature with a deep plain frieze and cornice, topped with a blocking course. The chains emerge through the frieze.

The bridge deck consists of wrought-iron lattice girders, suspended by two pairs of 4 and 5 bar flat link chains. The walkway is surfaced with tarmac, and the parapet is made of thin latticework wrought-iron. Additionally, the bridge retains some of its original cast-iron lamp brackets.