The three span, second bridge built at Bonar Bridge
Date Added: 12 October 2008
Year: 1950
Institution Name: dnhhl
Cat No: ◀ | 2001_312_001_05 | ▶
Picture No: 5537
Colour postcard of the three span bridge at Bonar Bridge. This was the bridge that replaced the original Telford bridge, built 1811/12 destroyed in a storm 19 January 1892. From an album containing a selection of postcards and photographs taken by Mrs J.I.C. Mackayo f Dornoch and surrounding area.
Dimensions: Length150 mm - Width 105 mm
5 Comments
I've always been told that the original bridge was destroyed by the weight of ice piling up against the pillars, but I can't give you any written evidence.
Comment left on 28 March 2012 at 19:57 by John Ross In the Museum reference section there is a booklet called 'Moments from Memories: The People of Bonar Bridge' edited by Sarah Horne, which has two accounts of the loss of the first bridge by locals (Donnie Mackenzie and May Munro (Wooley)) both of whom state the damage was inflicted by ice coming down the Firth following a flood in the Carron and Kyle Administrator
Comment left on 28 March 2012 at 19:57 by John Ross In the Museum reference section there is a booklet called 'Moments from Memories: The People of Bonar Bridge' edited by Sarah Horne, which has two accounts of the loss of the first bridge by locals (Donnie Mackenzie and May Munro (Wooley)) both of whom state the damage was inflicted by ice coming down the Firth following a flood in the Carron and Kyle Administrator
A plaque which was originally placed on the second Bonar Bridge when it opened in 1893, and which now stands beside the third bridge, states "Bonar Bridge. Destroyed by a flood on 29th January 1892. Rebuilt by the County Councils of Ross & Cromarty and Sutherland 1893. Opened 6th July 1893." This near contemporaneous record is compelling evidence that flood water was the cause of the 1812 bridge’s destruction.
It has been suggested elsewhere that the bridge "disappeared" after an accident with a fishing vessel. According to the RCAHMS website, the bridge survived impacts by fir trunks and a ship, but collapsed when it was undermined by flood water. This latter version fits in with the 1893 plaque’s description, and may also suggest the genesis of the alternative (and probably inaccurate) story that the bridge was destroyed by a ship. Comment left on 28 March 2012 at 20:00 by David MacLean
It has been suggested elsewhere that the bridge "disappeared" after an accident with a fishing vessel. According to the RCAHMS website, the bridge survived impacts by fir trunks and a ship, but collapsed when it was undermined by flood water. This latter version fits in with the 1893 plaque’s description, and may also suggest the genesis of the alternative (and probably inaccurate) story that the bridge was destroyed by a ship. Comment left on 28 March 2012 at 20:00 by David MacLean
Here is an extract from a House of Lords speech by Lord Balfour on 11 March 1892. It seems the January 1892 floods were widespread and devastating, destroying bridges all over the North:
"Your Lordships may be aware "certainly those of your Lordships who are connected with Scotland will be aware" that in the last week of January a very disastrous flood took place over a great part of the North of Scotland by which a very large number of bridges on the roads in the counties of Inverness, Ross, Cromarty, and Sutherland were washed away "one in particular, the destruction of which has caused a very great amount of public inconvenience, was Bonar Bridge, which is very well known to your Lordships, as the main line of communication between the counties of Ross and Sutherland."
Comment left on 30 March 2012 at 09:19 by David MacLean
"Your Lordships may be aware "certainly those of your Lordships who are connected with Scotland will be aware" that in the last week of January a very disastrous flood took place over a great part of the North of Scotland by which a very large number of bridges on the roads in the counties of Inverness, Ross, Cromarty, and Sutherland were washed away "one in particular, the destruction of which has caused a very great amount of public inconvenience, was Bonar Bridge, which is very well known to your Lordships, as the main line of communication between the counties of Ross and Sutherland."
Comment left on 30 March 2012 at 09:19 by David MacLean
The first Bonar bridge was built by Thomas Telford. However it was designed to cross the Kyle of Sutherland at Invershin, a far narrower span. An identical bridge was cast at the same time to cross the Spey at Craigellachie in Moray, it was placed there as it matched the width of the Kyle.
Subsequently, for commercial rather than engineering reasons, it was decided to move the crossing to Bonar which meant that stone arches had to be built on the Ross-Shire side as the river was twice as wide. The bridge was completed in November 1812. On the 29th January 1892 the bridge was swept away during the ‘great flood’.
Bonar Bridge failed due to the extra stone arches that were added when it was decided that the bridge would be moved from its designed location. During the flood the arches blocked up with ice, trees and other debris and the power of the water washed them away. The bridge at Craigellachie is fine. Comment left on 18 November 2020 at 18:31 by David Watson Many thanks for this fascinating information Administrator
Subsequently, for commercial rather than engineering reasons, it was decided to move the crossing to Bonar which meant that stone arches had to be built on the Ross-Shire side as the river was twice as wide. The bridge was completed in November 1812. On the 29th January 1892 the bridge was swept away during the ‘great flood’.
Bonar Bridge failed due to the extra stone arches that were added when it was decided that the bridge would be moved from its designed location. During the flood the arches blocked up with ice, trees and other debris and the power of the water washed them away. The bridge at Craigellachie is fine. Comment left on 18 November 2020 at 18:31 by David Watson Many thanks for this fascinating information Administrator
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Many thanks for your comment. Our understanding was that the bridge was destroyed by a flood (assumed to have followed a storm) in February 1892 which lifted the bridge from its foundations and into the Firth. The second bridge (in postcard above) was finished in July 1893 and was itself replaced in 1973 with the current Bonar Bridge which has a much greater weight capacity.
Comment left on 27 March 2012 at 18:16 by Alice We would be very grateful if you could let us know if you have further information on the destruction of the bridge in 1892 Administrator