Three concrete arches. That’s all you see of the Bernard Street Bridge at first glance. But beneath the surface lies a rich history. This unassuming bridge in Leith isn’t just a modern crossing. It’s a layered testament to centuries of Edinburgh’s past.
The Bernard Street Bridge connects Bernard Street and Commercial Street. It carries the vital A199 road over the Water of Leith. This seemingly simple structure hides much of its bulk beneath the river’s unusually high water level. Lock gates maintain this level a far cry from the tidal river of the past.
Imagine. The first bridge here was built way back in 1496. The church commissioned it. But that bridge was gone by 1780. Leith was expanding rapidly. Its port was booming. The old bridge became an obstacle.
Then came the Lower Drawbridge. It sat a bit north of our current bridge. Traffic had to dogleg around it. This bridge wasn’t so lucky either. It met its end in 1910. The modern Bernard Street Bridge from the 1960s stands in its place. Despite its age and the constant flow of traffic. The Bernard Street Bridge remains a key artery in the city. Cars and taxis line its sides. A traffic light junction regulates the steady flow of vehicles. It still carries a primary route.
The iron seal of Scotland’s first public sewer is still visible near the bridge’s end. This sewer built in 1780 flowed directly into the Water of Leith. A testament to both progress and the river’s enduring presence.
The Bernard Street Bridge. More than meets the eye. It whispers tales of bygone bridges. Of a bustling port. A changing city. And of a waterway that continues to flow. Through centuries of history. Underneath this seemingly ordinary bridge.