Castle Kennedy Bridge, Lochinch Heritage Estate

The Castle Kennedy Bridge, built in 1739, is a single segmental-arched bridge constructed of red brick with a rubble soffit. Raised stone quoins define the corners. The roadway is hogbacked, and it is flanked by flat, coped parapets featuring three ball finials on each side. Scroll brackets are positioned at the parapet terminations, and these are carved with a Stair Coat of Arms and Coronet, encircled by a Collar of the Order of the Thistle. A keystoned arch spans the canal, accompanied by curved, coped brick quadrant walls.

The bridge forms an impressive entrance to Castle Kennedy, along with adjacent gatepiers, gates and boundary walls; these are included in a separate listing. William Adam is known to have undertaken work to the gardens of Castle Kennedy between 1720 and 1740, and the bridge may be to his design. It crosses the canal between the two lochs and is part of the wider Lochinch Heritage Estate, which includes Balker Farmhouse, Balker Lodge, Black Loch Boathouse, Black Stables Cottage, Canal Cottage, Castle Kennedy itself, Castle Kennedy gatepiers, gates and boundary walls, Castle Kennedy Lodge, Castle Kennedy Walled Garden, East Lodge, Garden Cottage, Ice House, Kennels, Kennel's House, Kitchen Garden, Lochinch Castle, Lochinch Stable Court, Main Lodge, Main Lodge gatepiers, gates and boundary walls, Old Parish Church, Old Parish Church graveyard, three sundials, and White Loch Boathouse. The bridge is evident on J Ainslie’s Wigton map from 1782 and has been documented in various publications since, including a visitor’s guide from 1875, a description from 1908, an illustrated guide from 1928, and academic studies of Scottish gardens and architecture.