Hyndford Bridge

Hyndford Bridge
Lanarkshire
Hyndford Bridge
Location
Carrying:	A73 road
Crossing:	River Clyde
Location
Grid reference:	NS91484146
Location:	55°39’16"N, 3°43’34"W
Structure
History
	Built 1773
Information

Hyndford Bridge is an elegant, Georgian stone bridge carrying the A73 over the young River Clyde on five spans. It is the highest road bridge on the river above Lanark and the famed Clyde Falls, and so an important crossing: there is no other available road bridge until Kirkfield Bank below the falls, or upstream the minor bridge at Carstairs, and so the A70 route combines with the A73 here to get across the river.

At the north end of the bridge stands a hamlet, Hyndfordbridge-End.

The bridge was built in 1773. It is a five span stone arch structure with the central arch considerably larger than those flanking it. This produces a humped profile with the road peaking over the central arch. Only the central three arches span the main river channel, the other two crossing the banks and acting as flood arches for when the river is in spate. The piers are protected by semi-circular cutwaters, which rise up to parapet level where they provide a series of small refuges for pedestrians.

References

• CANMORE (RCAHMS) record of Hyndford Bridge