Bridge of Alvah

Heritage listing

Category A Date Added 22/02/1972 Local Authority Aberdeenshire Planning Authority Aberdeenshire Parish Alvah NGR NJ 68020 61067 Coordinates 368020, 861067 — 1768; built 1771-3, designed by Duke of Fife, possibly with Thomas Reid, and James Robertson, mason. Single span, segmentally arched bridge over gorge of River Deveron, incorporating small room in W abutment. Sneck-harled, random rubble with ashlar coped parapet; splayed at abutments. Mural room with pointed arched openings; doorway to N, window to S, pointed barrel-vault and fireplace to interior. — Part of the picturesque landscape at Duff House, The Bridge of Alvah was begun in 1771. Although Thomas White drew up a landscape design for Duff House, it is possible that Thomas Reid, landscape gardener from Banff, may have been involved with the design; he had the nursery at Colleonard to the W, and was working at Duff at the time, building the bridge at Bauchlaw in 1770. Letters in the Montcoffer Papers, currently being re-catalogued by Aberdeen University Library, ask the Earl of Fife for additional directions about the room in the bridge which, according to local tradition was built for the Earl to entertain local girls. Rails were put on the bridge in 1773; they do not appear on Cordiner's gouache of 1795, but are shown on Purser's drawing. The Gothick summerhouse on the hill to the NW of the Bridge is now Craig Cottage, listed separately. Other items in this important landscape; the Fishing Temple and the Temple of Doune by William Adam, the Mausoleum and Craig Cottage are listed separately in Alvah Parish and Banff and Macduff Burghs.

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.