Bridge of Earn
Encyclopedia
Bridge of Earn is a small town (till recently a village) in Perthshire
, Scotland
.
Often referred to simply as 'The Brig' (Scots
for 'bridge') by its inhabitants. As the name suggests, the village grew up on the south bank of an important crossing of the River Earn
, whose sandstone bridge existed from at least the early 14th century, when it is known to have been repaired by order of King Robert I of Scotland
(1306–1329) (site: NO 133 185). Substantial remains of the medieval bridge (rendered redundant by a replacement, still in use, slightly upstream in 1821-22) survived into the 1970s, when almost all the stonework was demolished, for (allegedly) being in a dangerously ruinous condition. This ancient bridge was a major landmark on the road between Edinburgh
and Perth
for several centuries. The village's oldest houses are to be found lining the road (Back Street/Old Edinburgh Road) leading south from the site of the demolished bridge. Among them are some with 18th century datestone
s.
The ruined Old Bridge of Earn (and part of the village) are featured in the 1857 painting Sir Isumbras at the Ford by John Everett Millais
(1829–1896), who often stayed at nearby Perth. There is also an early 19th century lithograph showing the structure as complete in Sketches of Scenery in Perthshire by David Octavius Hill
(1802–1870).
) origin, and may contain the element druim, 'ridge, spine'. The ancient ecclesiastical focus of the parish was not within the present village, but about 1.5 km to the west at NO 113 190. The site of the medieval parish church is marked by a walled burial ground a little south of the River Earn. There are no visible remains of the medieval building (or of the medieval village that is said to have adjoined it to the south), but the churchyard contains an interesting collection of 18th century headstones carved with symbols of mortality, trades etc. In 1689 the church was rebuilt much nearer to the Bridge, by then the main focus of settlement in the parish, at NO 130 185. In 1787 the church was rebuilt yet again, using the same stones, on its present site just to the east of the second, which also became a graveyard. The present congregation is a large and flourishing one, and a modern hall and kitchen has been built adjoining the church in recent years. The parish has recently been linked with Forgandenny
, its neighbour to the west.
The remains of two medieval chapels survive in Dunbarney parish, in the grounds of Moncrieffe estate (originally a private chapel of the Moncrieffe family, now their burial vault), and at Ecclesiamagirdle , a site of probably early Christian origin adjoining Ecclesiamagirdle House (early 17th century) on the Glenearn Estate below the Ochil Hills
. It is sometimes suggested that the latter was a parish church in its own right up to the Reformation
(1559), though there seems to be no conclusive documentation on this point. The small surviving late medieval building (roofless but largely complete) might seem too modest in size to have served as a parish church. The surrounding graveyard contains several well-preserved gravestones from the 17th and 18th centuries, which are interesting examples of 'folk art
'.
The parish of Dunbarney was very much part of the traditional agricultural economy of lowland Scotland up to the late 19th century, with most of the inhabitants engaged in agriculture or associated rural crafts. The traffic on the main north road from Edinburgh also gave a certain scope for the inn and hotel trade to accommodate travellers. From the late 18th century the spa (now closed) at Pitkeathly Wells
became an important economic focus, with large numbers of visitors resorting to the parish to 'take the waters'. During the 19th century the coming of the railway to the village and the building of a station (closed in the 1960s) provided a further source of local employment, with much local produce being moved out by rail.
Salmon fishing on the Earn (a major tributary of the Tay
), was also long an important source of income, though since the late 20th century commercial net fishing on both rivers has died out (sport fishing continues in season).
Since the Second World War Bridge of Earn has increasingly become a dormitory town for families whose wage-earners commute to Perth, Dundee
, Edinburgh or other large towns, and this has led to a great expansion in the numbers of homes being built, and a corresponding increase in the number of local shops and services.
reforms of the 1960s.
was formerly well-known and popular as a health and social resort, but was closed in 1949.
.
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, 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...
.
Often referred to simply as 'The Brig' (Scots
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
for 'bridge') by its inhabitants. As the name suggests, the village grew up on the south bank of an important crossing of the River Earn
River Earn
The River Earn in Scotland leaves Loch Earn at St Fillans and runs east through Strathearn, then east and south, joining the River Tay near Abernethy. The Earn is about long. It passes by Comrie, Crieff and Bridge of Earn....
, whose sandstone bridge existed from at least the early 14th century, when it is known to have been repaired by order of King Robert I of Scotland
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
(1306–1329) (site: NO 133 185). Substantial remains of the medieval bridge (rendered redundant by a replacement, still in use, slightly upstream in 1821-22) survived into the 1970s, when almost all the stonework was demolished, for (allegedly) being in a dangerously ruinous condition. This ancient bridge was a major landmark on the road between Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
for several centuries. The village's oldest houses are to be found lining the road (Back Street/Old Edinburgh Road) leading south from the site of the demolished bridge. Among them are some with 18th century datestone
Datestone
A datestone is typically an embedded stone with the date of engraving and other information carved into it. They are not considered a very reliable source for dating a house, as instances of old houses being destroyed and rebuilt have been reported.Specific locations have often been chosen for...
s.
The ruined Old Bridge of Earn (and part of the village) are featured in the 1857 painting Sir Isumbras at the Ford by John Everett Millais
John Everett Millais
Sir John Everett Millais, 1st Baronet, PRA was an English painter and illustrator and one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.-Early life:...
(1829–1896), who often stayed at nearby Perth. There is also an early 19th century lithograph showing the structure as complete in Sketches of Scenery in Perthshire by David Octavius Hill
David Octavius Hill
The Scottish painter and arts activist David Octavius Hill collaborated with the engineer and photographer Robert Adamson between 1843 and 1847 to pioneer many aspects of photography in Scotland.-Early life:...
(1802–1870).
History
Bridge of Earn is the main village in the parish of Dunbarney (sometimes Dumbarney in older documents). The place-name is of uncertain (though probably GaelicGoidelic languages
The Goidelic languages or Gaelic languages are one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic languages, the other consisting of the Brythonic languages. Goidelic languages historically formed a dialect continuum stretching from the south of Ireland through the Isle of Man to the north of Scotland...
) origin, and may contain the element druim, 'ridge, spine'. The ancient ecclesiastical focus of the parish was not within the present village, but about 1.5 km to the west at NO 113 190. The site of the medieval parish church is marked by a walled burial ground a little south of the River Earn. There are no visible remains of the medieval building (or of the medieval village that is said to have adjoined it to the south), but the churchyard contains an interesting collection of 18th century headstones carved with symbols of mortality, trades etc. In 1689 the church was rebuilt much nearer to the Bridge, by then the main focus of settlement in the parish, at NO 130 185. In 1787 the church was rebuilt yet again, using the same stones, on its present site just to the east of the second, which also became a graveyard. The present congregation is a large and flourishing one, and a modern hall and kitchen has been built adjoining the church in recent years. The parish has recently been linked with Forgandenny
Forgandenny
Forgandenny is a small village in Perth and Kinross, located four miles south of Perth, Scotland, UK. Perth is a 20 minute bus ride from Forgandenny, and there is a regular Stagecoach service. Forgandenny is 45 minutes from Edinburgh and one hour from Glasgow...
, its neighbour to the west.
The remains of two medieval chapels survive in Dunbarney parish, in the grounds of Moncrieffe estate (originally a private chapel of the Moncrieffe family, now their burial vault), and at Ecclesiamagirdle , a site of probably early Christian origin adjoining Ecclesiamagirdle House (early 17th century) on the Glenearn Estate below the Ochil Hills
Ochil Hills
The Ochil Hills is a range of hills in Scotland north of the Forth valley bordered by the towns of Stirling, Alloa, Kinross and Perth. The only major roads crossing the hills pass through Glen Devon/Glen Eagles and Glenfarg, the latter now largely replaced except for local traffic by the M90...
. It is sometimes suggested that the latter was a parish church in its own right up to the Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
(1559), though there seems to be no conclusive documentation on this point. The small surviving late medieval building (roofless but largely complete) might seem too modest in size to have served as a parish church. The surrounding graveyard contains several well-preserved gravestones from the 17th and 18th centuries, which are interesting examples of 'folk art
Folk art
Folk art encompasses art produced from an indigenous culture or by peasants or other laboring tradespeople. In contrast to fine art, folk art is primarily utilitarian and decorative rather than purely aesthetic....
'.
The parish of Dunbarney was very much part of the traditional agricultural economy of lowland Scotland up to the late 19th century, with most of the inhabitants engaged in agriculture or associated rural crafts. The traffic on the main north road from Edinburgh also gave a certain scope for the inn and hotel trade to accommodate travellers. From the late 18th century the spa (now closed) at Pitkeathly Wells
Pitkeathly Wells
Pitkeathly Wells is a hamlet in the Perth and Kinross area of Scotland. It is north of the Ochil Hills, 2 miles south-west of Bridge of Earn. Wells in the area produced the Pitkeathly mineral waters, which were drunk and used as baths from 1785 to 1949. A Dr...
became an important economic focus, with large numbers of visitors resorting to the parish to 'take the waters'. During the 19th century the coming of the railway to the village and the building of a station (closed in the 1960s) provided a further source of local employment, with much local produce being moved out by rail.
Salmon fishing on the Earn (a major tributary of the Tay
River Tay
The River Tay is the longest river in Scotland and the seventh-longest in the United Kingdom. The Tay originates in western Scotland on the slopes of Ben Lui , then flows easterly across the Highlands, through Loch Dochhart, Loch Lubhair and Loch Tay, then continues east through Strathtay , in...
), was also long an important source of income, though since the late 20th century commercial net fishing on both rivers has died out (sport fishing continues in season).
Since the Second World War Bridge of Earn has increasingly become a dormitory town for families whose wage-earners commute to Perth, Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, Edinburgh or other large towns, and this has led to a great expansion in the numbers of homes being built, and a corresponding increase in the number of local shops and services.
Expansion
Bridge of Earn, and the formerly neighbouring but now conjoined village of Kintillo, have expanded out of all recognition since the 1960s, with hundreds of new homes being built. Many more - in fact an entire new settlement called Oudenarde - is currently being built on the site of the large former hospital (NO 142 181) to the east of the old village (*). Bridge of Earn's proximity to Perth, and convenient transport links to Edinburgh and Dundee, make it a desirable 'dormitory' town, though its railway station was closed following the BeechingBeeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
reforms of the 1960s.
- Note: because of the current financial crisis (as of April 2010), construction has been halted at an early stage.
Sport
The local football teams including Bridge of Earn, Abernethy and Dunbarney teams play their games here at Victory Park, just off Main Street, visit the football teams website http://www.bridgeofearnyfc.co.ukFacilities
Apart from the church http://www.dfpchurch.org.uk/ and school, facilities in the village include a park, bowling club, tennis courts, a post office, more than one public house and several shops. The spa at Pitkeathly WellsPitkeathly Wells
Pitkeathly Wells is a hamlet in the Perth and Kinross area of Scotland. It is north of the Ochil Hills, 2 miles south-west of Bridge of Earn. Wells in the area produced the Pitkeathly mineral waters, which were drunk and used as baths from 1785 to 1949. A Dr...
was formerly well-known and popular as a health and social resort, but was closed in 1949.
Education
The village school, recently greatly enlarged and modernised, is Dunbarney Primary School. Within Dunbarney parish, is the public school Kilgraston SchoolKilgraston School
Kilgraston School is a British independent school, founded in 1930. It is a Roman Catholic boarding and day school for girls aged 2½–18 and day boys aged 2½–9. Currently more than 340 pupils attend Kilgraston, of which 158 live at Kilgraston for either week-nights or for entire half terms...
.