Yair Bridge

The Yair Bridge or Fairnilee Bridge is a bridge across the River Tweed at Yair, near Galashiels in the Scottish Borders.

Yair Bridge
Coordinates55.586°N 2.8695°W / 55.586; -2.8695
CarriesA707 public road
CrossesRiver Tweed
Heritage statusCategory A listed
Characteristics
MaterialStone
Total length146 feet (45 m)
No. of spans3
Clearance below22 feet (6.7 m)
History
DesignerWilliam Mylne
Opened1764
Location

History
The bridge in winter

It was built in around 1764, with William Mylne acting as both designer and contractor.[1] Its construction was authorised by an Act of Parliament obtained in 1764, for 12 miles (19 km) of road that would cost 6560l, including the "substantial" bridge at Fairnilee.[2]

It was listed as a Category A listed building in 1971.[3]

The bridge was substantially rebuilt between 1987 and 1988, with the addition of reinforcing concrete.[4]

Design
The bridge viewed from the south

It has three arches of 42 feet (13 m) span, and is 22 feet (6.7 m) clear over the river.[4] The total length of the bridge is 146 feet (45 m).[4] The width between the parapets is 13 feet 9 inches (4.19 m), but the cutwaters are carried up to form semi-hexagonal pedestrian refuges.[4] The piers and abutments are made from block masonry, and the rest of the structure is made from rubble.[4]

The bridge carries the A707 public road across the River Tweed.[5]

References
  1. Skempton, A. W. (2002). A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland: 1500–1830. Thomas Telford. p. 473. ISBN 978-0-7277-2939-2.
  2. Douglas, Robert (1798). General View of the Agriculture of the Counties of Roxburgh and Selkirk; with Observations on the Means of Its Improvement. Richard Phillips. p. 322.
  3. Historic Environment Scotland. "Yair Bridge  (Category A Listed Building) (LB1901)". Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  4. "Yair Bridge". rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  5. Google (16 March 2015). "Yair Bridge" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
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