Chinese Bridge, Taymouth Castle

The Chinese Bridge
Perthshire
The Chinese Bridge on the Tay
Location
Carrying:	Footpath
Crossing:	River Tay
Location
Grid reference:	NN78244673
Location:	56°35’48"N, 3°59’5"W
Structure
History
	Built 1829
Information

The Chinese Bridge is a three-arched cast-iron bridge which crosses the River Tay in the Taymouth Castle estate in Perthshire, carrying a footpath leading north from the rear of the castle itself.

The original Chinese Bridge here was a Georgian construction, built in wood in 1754. After it decayed, it was replaced by the current iron bridge, designed by William Atkinson and cast at the Devon Iron Works in Clackmannanshire in 1829. It is not Chinese in style, and has been compared more to the Tudor style, but may have inherited its name from the original, timber bridge. The bridge thus predates the castle: today's Taymouth Castle was built in 1849 by the Marquess of Breadalbane.

The bridge is one of the spectacular and complete group of structures making up the Taymouth Castle estate. It has however suffered from rust and has undergone repair work.

The castle and its contents were sold in 1922 and it became a hotel. The site operated as a Polish hospital during the war and was later leased to a civil defence school.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Chinese Bridge, Taymouth Castle)

• British Wonders: Kenmore and Taymouth

References

• Chinese Bridge - Listing detail (Historic Environment Scotland)
• Taymouth Castle - Graces Guide

Bridges and crossings on the River Tay
Loch Tay	Kenmore Bridge	Chinese Bridge	Newhall Bridge	Tay Bridge	Aberfeldy Footbridge	Grandtully Bridge