Old Blair Bridge over Banvie Burn

The bridge is an early 18th century round-arched military bridge with a later raised carriageway. The bridge remains in use and crosses the Banvie Burn within the Blair Atholl estate policies. The 18th century military bridge is rubble built with roughly dressed voussoirs forming the arch. It is sprung from rubble masonry abutments on bedrock on either side of the river, but these have been altered with the eastern abutment encased in concrete. The heightened carriageway does not extend across the entire width of the bridge and the southern quarter of the carriageway of the 18th century bridge is visible where a pathway has been maintained. The southern parapet survives and extends beyond both ends of the bridge where it flares outwards to form the approaches. The later heightened carriageway is raised up on rubble masonry walls that extend above the carriageway to form high parapets.

Historical Development

There was an estimated total of 1700kms 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 is likely to relate to an early phase of road building – between Old Blair and Dalnacardoch (in 1728). The bridge was later altered as part of developments within the policies of Blair Castle by the construction of a raised carriageway to meet the adjoining estate road. The alterations date to before 1861 when they are shown on the Ordanance Survey 1st edition map.