Bridge of Dee, Stone arch bridge in Aberdeen, Scotland
The Bridge of Dee is a seven-arch stone bridge built from granite and sandstone, crossing the River Dee at the southern edge of Aberdeen. It carries road traffic over the river and stands as one of the main southern entry points into the city.
Building work started in 1518, funded and overseen by church figures including the Bishop of Aberdeen. It was widened on its eastern side in the 19th century to handle heavier traffic as the city expanded.
Carved coats of arms and Latin inscriptions are still visible on the bridge parapets, placed there by masons connected to the nearby cathedral. Walking across, visitors can stop to examine these details up close, which gives the crossing a character unlike most road bridges.
The bridge can be crossed on foot along a pavement that runs beside an active road, so quieter times of day make for a more comfortable visit. Views of the river are easy to take in from both sides without needing to go far off the main path.
The stone used to build the bridge arrived by ship, because no roads at the time could handle the transport of such heavy loads overland. Despite the widening carried out centuries later, the original seven arches from 1518 are still the ones doing the work of holding the structure up.
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