Ruthrieston Pack Bridge

Heritage listing

Category B Date Added 12/01/1967 Local Authority Aberdeen Planning Authority Aberdeen Burgh Aberdeen NGR NJ 92945 03872 Coordinates 392945, 803872 — Dated 1693; moved 35 yards E in 1923. 3-span, hump-back, round-arched bridge over tributary to River Dee. Coursed lightly tooled granite, with granite arch-rings; cobbled road. Splayed wing walls. Parapet stepped-up to centre, added 1923. Cutwaters surmounted by 2 tooled coats of arms to E; panel reading "ERECTED IN 1693 35 YARDS WEST OF THIS SITE - RE-ERECTED HERE IN 1923" to W; panel with Latin inscription to inside E parapet. — Ruthrieston Pack Bridge, which is the only surviving example of a pack horse bridge in this area of Scotland, was described by Fraser as an "exceedingly well built bridge, of dressed granite" (THE BRIDGE OF DEE, p15). It would appear that the bridge was first mentioned in the Town Council Minutes in 1541 as the "blind bryg", however what became of this bridge is not known. The present bridge was built with stones from the quarry in Hill of Pitfoddels over 150 years later. Despite being moved in 1923, Ruthrieston Pack Bridge survives in good condition. The parapet is a later addition, the original parapets being long gone even in 1910. The main loss is the weathering of the two coats of arms. That to the left is of Aberdeen City, with 3 towers supported by 2 leopards, and the motto "Bon Accord"; while that to the right belongs to Robert Cruickshank of Banchory (Devenick), who was provost at the time the bridge was built, and added his coat of arms without the Council's permission. In 1698 when he ceased to be provost the Council demanded the stone be removed and that Cruickshank should pay for a new stone, on which would be a Latin inscription. When Cruickshank refused to pay his stone was turned r

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.