South Bridge Act 1785

The South Bridge Act 1785 (25 Geo III c.28)[1] was a public act of the United Kingdom Parliament concerning the South Bridge and other facilities in Edinburgh.

South Bridge over Cowgate
South Bridge Act 1785
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act. For opening an easy and commodious Communication from the High Street of Edinburgh, to the Country Southward; and also from the Lawn Market to the New extended Royalty on the North, and for enabling Trustees to purchase Lands, Houses, and Areas for that Purpose; for widening and enlarging the Streets of the said City, and certain Avenues leading to the same; for rebuilding or improving the University.
Introduced byHenry Dundas
Dates
Royal assent1785
Commencement1785
[[Bridge Act 1785] Text of statute as originally enacted]
Text of the South Bridge Act 1785 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

South Bridge Scheme

The first specific proposal for a South Bridge was produced on 6th September 1775 with the publication of a pamphlet setting out heads of a Bill. The promoters were a Committee of Heritors of the Shire of Edinburgh, including Henry Dundas who acted as Chairman, and the Duke of Buccleuch. [2]

In 1784 the scheme for the South Bridge was revived and with it the hopes of rebuilding the College on the exiting site. Andrew Dalzel wrote to a friend in December : "It is now resolved to build a bridge across the Cowgate, passing between the College and the Infirmary. It is thought that when the posteriors of the College are exposed, people will be shamed into building a new College." This startling prospect gave rise to another pamphlet, published in early 1785 by James Gregory, Professor of the Theory of Medicine, in the form of "A letter to the Right Honourable Henry Dundas on the Proposed Improvements in the City of Edinburgh."[3] [4]

References
  1. Parliament, Great Britain (1785). "Topics: Law: Policies".
  2. "An Address to the Inhabitants of Edinburgh. [Signed: A Citizen.]". 1775.
  3. Gregory, James (1785). "A Letter to the Right Honourable Henry Dundas: ... On the Proposed Improvements in the City of Edinburgh, and on the Means of Accomplishing Them".
  4. https://archive.org/stream/statutesatlarge23unkngoog#page/n118/mode/2up%7C26 Geo III c.28


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