Bridge, High Street, Lasswade

Heritage listing

Category B Date Added 16/09/1979 Local Authority Midlothian Planning Authority Midlothian Burgh Bonnyrigg And Lasswade NGR NT 30381 66109 Coordinates 330381, 666109 — 18th century with later repairs. Sandstone rubble parapet to SW with ridged ashlar cope; cast-iron and concrete pedestrian path flanking SW parapet; ashlar sandstone parapet to NE with square ashlar cope. 2 ashlar sandstone segmental arches with ashlar voussoirs, soffits and abutments. Full-height triangular-plan cutwater between arches to SW; half-height triangular-plan cutwater to NE with tapered buttress above. — Carrying the road over the River North Esk, linking Lasswade and Bonnyrigg with the thoroughfare to Edinburgh. In close proximity to the tollhouse on the north bank, a charge (toll) would have been levied at his point for using the bridge and accompanying section of road. The minute book charts the catalogue of problems involved with the upkeep of Lasswade Bridge; on 8th April, 1776, it was noted that the bridge needed repairs and a James Henderson, mason, gave an estimate of the costs involved (not noted). By 30th April, there was talk of replacing the bridge with a new one although this does not seem to have come to anything as, by 25th May, an Alexander Steven, mason, quoted ?70 for the repair and upkeep of the bridge for a period of 7 years. At this meeting it was noted that both Henderson and Steven submitted plans for a new bridge although, from later entries, it seems that the Trustees opted for an ongoing repair regime. By 1795 there were plans afoot to widen the bridge and to repair the abutments, which had recently fallen down. Much repaired and altered since, including the addition if a pedestrian walkway to SW. Upgraded to category B, 22-Nov-91. Tollhouse listed separately.

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.