Crowbyres Bridge

Crowbyres Bridge is a road bridge built in 1819 by John Smith of Darnick, with later widening in the 19th century. It consists of two segmental arches; the main span and a smaller flood arch to the north, crossing Slitrig Water. The bridge has splayed wing walls and triangular cutwaters. The structure is primarily random rubble stone, with some 20th-century rebuilding to the west side.

The bridge exemplifies John Smith's innovative economical method of whinstone rubble arch construction, which eschewed the use of ashlar. John Smith (1782-1864) and his brother Thomas were builders and architects working extensively in the Scottish Borders during the early 19th century, and their techniques were documented in the RIBA Transactions.

A ford previously existed at this location, as illustrated on Matthew Stobie’s map of Roxburghshire or Tiviotdale from 1770. Ainslie's map of 1821 shows the bridge in its original form. The bridge was widened to the west during the later 19th century, likely around 1870, as evidenced by neatly dressed voussoirs on the western elevation and Ordnance Survey maps. The clear distinction between the original construction and the later widening contributes to the architectural interest of the bridge. The bridge is located on a sharp corner of the B6399 between Hawick and Newcastleton, just south of Hawick. John Smith’s diary entry from 18th January 1819 refers to the bridge.