Newton Bridge

The bridge is an early 18th century single arched military bridge crossing the River Almond. Still used, the bridge is located on the A822 road, immediately southeast of Newton. It is constructed of stone with roughly-worked voussoirs forming the arch of the bridge. The flat carriageway is surfaced with parapets surviving on either side of the carriageway. The bridge has rubble masonry abutments either side of the river and has splayed wing walls buttressed on the west side. The underside of the bridge displays a joint running the length of the bridge - evidence for an historical widening of the structure.

Historical Development

There was an estimated total of 1700km of military road built in Scotland (approximately 400km by General Wade and 1300km by Major Caulfeild) between the early 1720s and the late 1750s.

The first programmes of work started in 1725 Under Wade's command, Repairs were made to various fortifications including Edinburgh Castle and at Fort William and new forts were built at Inverness (Fort George) and Killihuimen (Fort Augustus). Road communications and connections were improved between the garrisons at Fort William, Fort Augustus and Fort George. The roads programme then focused on expanding the network between Dunkeld and Inverness (later known as 'The Great North Road') with branches connecting Crieff to the Great North Road at Dalnacardoch (later known as 'The Second Great North Road') and Fort Augustus to the Great North Road at Dalwhinnie. The second major programme of works was overseen by Wade's successor, Major William Caulfeild, with branches constructed, from 1741 onwards, between: Crieff and Stirling, an incomplete build between Dumbarton and Inverary, Stirling to Fort William, Coupar Angus to Fort George, and Amulree to Dunkeld.

This bridge relates to the Crieff to Aberfeldy section of eighteenth-century military road. It was likely constructed between 1725 and 1740. The bridge appears to have been altered with a widening of the entire structure, to the east, and the addition of parapets on both sides.