Union Bridge, Aberdeen
Encyclopedia
Union Bridge is a bridge on Union Street
, Aberdeen
, Scotland
. It is the largest single-span granite
bridge in the world, at 130 feet (40 metres). It was built by Thomas Fletcher under some influence from Thomas Telford
. It is a Category B listed building with Historic Scotland
.
Constructed from 1801–05 as part of Union Street under plans suggested by Charles Abercrombie, it was intended to provide an impressive approach into the city from the south (and west); previously the route had been somewhat circuitous. The bridge crosses the Denburn valley, and Union Terrace Gardens
. Alongside the gardens are a dual carriageway and single railway track; originally there was a small roadway and considerable railway workings, with the site being a short distance north of Aberdeen railway station
.
The bridge was widened in 1908, in a scheme of William Diack, with Benjamin Baker as consultant, shortly before the latter's death. Steel side spans which carry today's pavements were introduced, as were "Kelly's cats", black cast metal leopard
s by William Kelly which sit along the balustrade.
The southern side of the bridge, including the cats, was hidden, and the view lost, when mid-20th Century shopping developments were constructed alongside it. The road and railways continue to run under the shops. Some of the lost cats may be seen at the Duthie Park
winter gardens.
Union Street, Aberdeen
Union Street is a major street and shopping thoroughfare in Aberdeen, Scotland.It was built, along with the adjoining King Street, in the beginning of the 19th Century under plans suggested by Charles Abercrombie to provide an impressive entrance way into the city, and nearly bankrupted the city...
, Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is the largest single-span granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
bridge in the world, at 130 feet (40 metres). It was built by Thomas Fletcher under some influence from Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
. It is a Category B listed building with Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.-Role:As its website states:...
.
Constructed from 1801–05 as part of Union Street under plans suggested by Charles Abercrombie, it was intended to provide an impressive approach into the city from the south (and west); previously the route had been somewhat circuitous. The bridge crosses the Denburn valley, and Union Terrace Gardens
Union Terrace Gardens
Union Terrace Gardens is a public park and gardens, and important landmark situated on Union Terrace at the heart of Aberdeen, Scotland.- The gardens :The sunken gardens opened to the public in 1879, and cover approximately two and a half acres...
. Alongside the gardens are a dual carriageway and single railway track; originally there was a small roadway and considerable railway workings, with the site being a short distance north of Aberdeen railway station
Aberdeen railway station
Aberdeen railway station is the main railway station in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is the busiest railway station in Scotland north of the major cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.- History :...
.
The bridge was widened in 1908, in a scheme of William Diack, with Benjamin Baker as consultant, shortly before the latter's death. Steel side spans which carry today's pavements were introduced, as were "Kelly's cats", black cast metal leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
s by William Kelly which sit along the balustrade.
The southern side of the bridge, including the cats, was hidden, and the view lost, when mid-20th Century shopping developments were constructed alongside it. The road and railways continue to run under the shops. Some of the lost cats may be seen at the Duthie Park
Duthie Park
Duthie park, situated in Aberdeen, Scotland, by the banks of the River Dee, comprises of land gifted to the council in 1881 by Lady Elizabeth Duthie of Ruthrieston, in memory of her uncle and of her brother...
winter gardens.