Can you imagine Victorian ladies crossing the New Bridge? They were prim and proper. Their luscious skirts risked exposure in the wind. The New Bridge’s high side panels prevented such scandalous displays.
The New Bridge stands before us. It links Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns. It measures 160 meters long. This impressive structure overlooks Waverley Train Station and Princes Street Gardens. The New Bridge has connected Edinburgh’s Old and New Town since 1897.
But this New Bridge isn’t the first. Its history is long and a bit shaky.
In the mid-1700s, Lord Provost George Drummond wanted to modernize Edinburgh. He didn’t want the Athens of the North to look filthy. Merchants had to wade through mud to get from the Old Town to the New Town. They risked injury and arrived dirty. What a disgrace.
Lord Drummond hired William Mylne. He wanted a bridge fit for the City of the Enlightenment. The project cost over ten thousand pounds.
First, part of the Nor Loch had to be drained. This manmade lake became a putrid cesspit. The town walls only surrounded Edinburgh on three sides. No army would enter the stinking sludge.
After draining the foul liquids, the first New Bridge started to take shape. It opened to pedestrians in 1765. It had three main arches and smaller ones. It measured 343 meters.
But a large part collapsed in 1769. Five people died. Building a bridge on sludge wasn’t Mylne’s best idea.
The first New Bridge was repaired and reopened in 1772. Many people avoided it. They thought it unsafe or cursed. The South Bridge had similar mistrust.
The original New Bridge was demolished in 1896. It was rebuilt to accommodate Waverley Station.
The current New Bridge is 160 meters long. It has three spans of arched girders. Each is 53 meters long. The New Bridge is 23 meters wide. Sir William Arrol & Co built it from 1894 to 1897. They also built the Forth Bridge. Robert Morham designed the ornamentation.
Andrew McDonald laid the foundation stone in 1896. He was the Lord Provost. A medal celebrated the bridge opening in 1897. The medal shows the New Bridge with trains. It also shows a bust of Sir Andrew McDonald.
The New Bridge has a war memorial. William Birnie Rhind sculpted it. It memorializes soldiers of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. They died in campaigns from 1878 to 1902. David Leslie Earl of Leven gathered a regiment of soldiers to defend the City of Edinburgh. The magistrates of Edinburgh gave the unique right of recruiting by the beat of the drum. The regiment was later named The King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
At the southern end, buildings have entrances at street level and in the valley. The Scotsman Hotel is on the west side. It was the headquarters of The Scotsman newspaper. The east side housed Patrick Thomson’s department store.
At the northern end, the Balmoral Hotel is on the west side. It was the North British Railway’s hotel. Waverley Gate is on the east side. It was the Edinburgh General Post Office.
A major refurbishment project started in 2021. It includes paving, drainage, and waterproofing. Repairs are being made to the concrete bridge deck. The work is expected to be completed in winter 2025.
The New Bridge you see today is a testament to Edinburgh’s resilience. It reflects its commitment to progress. This iconic structure continues to connect people and places.