Statement of Special Interest
The Bridge is a very early example of an 18th century bridge surviving largely in its original form and making an important historical contribution to the older part of the town of Innerleithen.
In 1665 the Vacant Stipend Act of the Scottish Parliament ensured that any available stipend was used by the Patron to build or repair bridges, churches and to support the region's poor. It is thought that the bridge was funded by these means, after two year period of vacancy from 1695-1697. Alexander Horsbrugh was selected to build the bridge in 1701 by the church with the intention of allowing congregation who lived in the eastern side of the parish to reach the Kirk on Leithen Road with ease.
The Old Bridge, also known as Cuddy Bridge, took the main road over Pirn Hill to Nether Horsbrugh before the new turnpike road was built in the 1770's which was eventually to become the High Street and the road between Peebles and Galashiels.
On James Dorrit's Map of 1781 the settlements of Inverleithing and Pirn are shown on either side of the Leithen water, presumably with the bridge linking the two.
It is worth noting that it is unusual to be able to date a bridge of this age with such certainty; however there is substantial information to evidence this.
The bridge has recently (2006) undergone repair works and the parapet appears to be largely rebuilt. It was previously a Scheduled Ancient Monument but was de-scheduled 11 December 1998.
List description revised and category changed from B to C(S) 2008.
About Listed Buildings
Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.
We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.
Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.
We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)
Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.
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If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.
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