Royal Bridge

Heritage listing

Category B Date Added 16/04/1971 Local Authority Aberdeenshire Planning Authority Aberdeenshire Burgh Ballater National Park Cairngorms NGR NO 37215 95588 Coordinates 337215, 795588 — Jenkins & Marr, engineers, 1885. 4-span segmental arched bridge over River Dee forming gateway to Ballater at E. Squared and coursed pink granite with pinning stones. Simple stepped parapet with saddleback coping. Bullnosed cutwaters, those to centre carried up and corbelled out to form pair of recessed refugees with inscriptions. (see Notes) Pair of engaged circular piers to approach to both W and E with rounded caps. — The building of a bridge from Ballater across the River Dee was the vital link which allowed the town to develop. The Pannanich Wells on the East side of the River Dee became famous in the mid 18th century as a place where cures could be found. As the Wells became more famous, increasing numbers of visitors came to the site. The hotel at the Wells themselves proved inadequate accommodation and more was required. Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie, and later his brother William, planned the town of Ballater to provide this extra accommodation, but a bridge was necessary. The first was built in 1783, 100m east of the present bridge. This initial bridge was destroyed by flooding in 1799. The second, built by Thomas Telford in 1809 was again destroyed by floodwater - the 'Muckle Spate' of 1829. A wooden bridge built in 1834 lasted until 1885 when it was superseded by the present one. This fourth bridge was opened by Queen Victoria in 1885.

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.