Brig o' Balgownie

The Brig o' Balgownie (originally Bridge of Don) is a 13th century bridge spanning the River Don in Old Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Construction of the bridge was begun in the late 13th century by Richard Cementarius, although its completion was not until 1320 at the time of the Scottish War of Independence. After falling into disrepair in the mid 16th century it was extensively renovated in 1605. In 1830 a newer bridge was built five hundred yards downstream which now bears that name of the "Bridge of Don".

Throughout its history the bridge has been considered an important asset. For five centuries possession of the bridge was the only way to move large armies quickly along the eastern coast of Aberdeenshire. It also provided a trade route to the wealthy areas of the north-east of Scotland.

The bridge is constructed of granite and sandstone. Its single gothic arch has span of over 12 metres and at low tide the apex of the arch lies over 17 metres above the water-line.

Today it is open to foot and bicycle traffic only.

History

The text below is taken from the notes of a public talk "History of the Brig o'Balgownie" given by Dr. Christopher P. Croly from the Archaeological Unit at Aberdeen City Council.

Origin of the bridge's name

The name Balgownie comes from the surrounding area, which from an early time was a barony. The name itself is of Gaelic origin, but is a source of some debate. Some authorities agree that the first part of the name, derived from "Baile" and means town. So from these it is probable that he was alive in 1277 but dead by 1294, therefore any involvement that he had with building the bridge would have to have been before 1294. As we do not know when the bridge was built it is unclear if he could have been involved. But it is a modern story whose only real prop is the similarity between the arch in the bridge and an arch in Drum Castle, also ascribed to Cementarius, but not proved and that certainly needs more research. However, it may simply have reflected a common building style.

Footnotes

# cite book | author = Alexander, W. | title = The Place Names of Aberdeenshire | publisher = Aberdeen Third Spalding Club | year = 1954
pages = xliii See also, cite book | author= Milne, J. | title= Celtic Place Names of Aberdeenshire. With a Vocabulary of Gaelic Words Not in Dictionaries. The Meaning and Etymology of the Gaelic Names of Places in Aberdeenshire | publisher = Aberdeen | year = 1912 | pages = 42
# For example see cite book | author= Alexander, W. | title=The Place Names of Aberdeenshire | publisher= Aberdeen Third Spalding Club | year=1954 | pages = 102 where the place name Pitgersie (meaning shoe maker's place) can also be expressed as Balgerscho (or a number of minor variants) where the first part of the name differs it does not affect the meaning of the name. However, Alexander also notes (p.xlvii) that "Pit" often refers to a town in the same sense as "Bal", so it is possible that "Pol" was a different element with a different meaning.
# cite book | author= Milne, J. | title= Celtic Place Names … | year = 1912 | pages = 33 gives 'town of the cattlefold'.
# cite book | author= Alexander, W. | title=Place Names … | year=1954 | pages = 15
# In the ecclesiastical statutes of St Machar's issued in 1256 the rights of the salmon fishing at Palgoueny were given to the deacon of the Cathedral, cite book | author= Innes, C. | title= Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, Volume II | publisher = Aberdeen Spalding Club | year=1845 | pages = 39
# cite book | editor = Anderson, P.J. | title = Charters and Other Writs Illustrating the History of the Royal Burgh of Aberdeen, MCLXXI - MDCCCIV | publisher = Aberdeen New Spalding Club | year = 1980 | pages = 352
# cite book | editor = Innes, C. | title = Parson Gordon's Aberdoniae Vtrivsque Descriptio. A Description of Both Touns of Aberdeen | publisher = Edinburgh, Spalding Club | year = 1842 | pages = 26
# cite book | author = Douglas, F. | title = A General Description of the East Coast of Scotland, from Edinburgh to Cullen; Including a brief account of the Universities of St. Andrews and Aberdeen, of the Trades and Manufacturers carried on in the large Towns, and the Improvements of the Country. In a Series of Letters to a Friend, 2nd edition | publisher = Aberdeen | year = 1826 | pages = 135
# cite book | author = Camden, W. | title = Annals of Aberdeen, from the Reign of King William the Lion, to the end of the Year 1818; with an Account of the City, Cathedral, and the University of Old Aberdeen, Volume I | pages = 420 | publisher = London |year = 1818 Camden goes on to note that the story is in all likelihood false and he favours the Bruce version, as he relies on Hay's charter as evidence.
# cite book | first = Alexander
last = Keith | year = 1980 | title = A Thousand Years of Aberdeen | pages = 31 | publisher = Aberdeen Keith quotes the following from Boerce, 'out of joy that he was received into the King's favour, upon his return home, he applied all the rents of his see, which during his absence had accresced to a considerable sum, towards building the stately bridge over the River Don &hellips;'. However in cite book | year = 1894
title = Boece's Murthlacensium et Aberdonensium Episcoporum Vitae | editor = Moir, J. | pages = 16-18 | publisher = Aberdeen New Spalding Club , in the part where he deals with Cheyne there is no mention whatsoever of his part in the building of the bridge suggesting Keith's quote is entirely fraudulent. Curiously in the 20th Century the 1320s seem to have taken precedence over the 1280s as having been when the bridge was built, see cite book | first = I. | last = Shepherd | year = 1996 | title = Aberdeen and North East Scotland | pages = 60 | publisher = Edinburgh who gives the date 1329 without footnote.
# cite book | first = F. | last = Wyness | year = 1972 | title = City by the Grey North Sea | pages = 121 | publisher = Aberdeen
# The first time this was given was in cite book | first = A. | last = MacDonald Munro | year = 1897 | title = Memorials of the Aldermen, Provosts and Lord Provosts of Aberdeen | pages = XX | publisher = Aberdeen
# cite book | year = 1892 | title = Cartularium Ecclesiae Sancti Nicholai Aberdonensis, Volume II | editor = J. Cooper | pages = 314 | publisher = Aberdeen
# cite book | year = 1892 | title = Cartularium Ecclesiae Sancti Nicholai Aberdonensis, Volume II | editor = J. Cooper | pages = 41 and 181 | publisher = Aberdeen