Highbridge, Scotland
Ruined bridge in Lochaber, Scotland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Highbridge is located on the River Spean, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) downstream from the village of Spean Bridge in the Scottish Highlands. The village takes its name from this bridge.
Highbridge | |
|---|---|
The ruins of the bridge | |
| Coordinates | 56°53′41″N 4°57′25″W |
| History | |
| Designer | George Wade |
| Built | 1736 |
| Collapsed | 1913 |
Listed Building – Category B | |
Official name | By Spean Bridge, High Bridge Over River Spean |
| Designated | 4 October 1971 |
| Reference no. | LB6841 |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Highbridge | |
The bridge was originally built by General Wade in 1736 (at a cost of £1,087) as the crossing of the River Spean on his Inverness to Fort William military road. This bridge was superseded in 1819 by a new bridge further upstream, designed by Thomas Telford. Highbridge was last repaired in 1893, but partially collapsed in 1913, and only the piers now remain. The remains are protected as a category B listed building.[1]
It was the site of the first action of the Jacobite rising of 1745, the Highbridge Skirmish, when a small number of Keppoch MacDonalds fooled a company of troops led by Captain Scott into thinking the bridge was heavily defended. The government troops retreated and were pursued to Loch Oich, where they surrendered.
