Polhollick Bridge

Polhollick Bridge
Polhollick Bridge
Coordinates	57°03′17.9″N 3°05′00.2″W / 57.054972°N 3.083389°W
Carries	Footpath
Crosses	River Dee
Owner	Aberdeenshire Council
Characteristics
Design	Suspension bridge
Total length	170 feet (52 m)
Traversable?	Yes
No. of spans	1
Piers in water	0
Load limit	Pedestrians only
History
Opened	1892
Replaces	Ferry crossing
Location

The Polhollick Bridge spans the

Storm Frank

in December 2015 and reopened after repairs in December 2018.

Description

Polhollick bridge is a footbridge crossing the River Dee around 2 miles (3 km) west of Ballater, Aberdeenshire.^[1] The bridge was paid for by Alexander Gordon, a wealthy brewer who had grown up in the area, and replaced an earlier ferry crossing. Gordon had witnessed a drowning incident involving a newly-married couple on the ferry crossing.^[2] The bridge was built in 1892 by James Abernethy and Co. steel founders in Ferry Hill, Aberdeen. It is a suspension bridge with lattice towers, sat on lozenge-shaped abutments, which carry two wire rope cables with ladder-like cross-bar stays. The deck, strengthened by lattice girder trusses, is suspended from the cable by rods. The bridge spans 170 feet (52 m).^[1]

The ferry, which pre-dates the late 18th century, was discontinued after the bridge was built. The ferry pier survives at the site, as does the former ferryman's house which is now a private dwelling.

category B listed.^[2]^[4]

Operation

The bridge was badly damaged in 1942 when it was hit by an

Storm Frank.^[2] The Polhollick and Cambus O' May bridges were among the worst affected of the 288 bridges in Aberdeenshire that were damaged by the storm.^[4] The bridge was closed for repairs, which included re-straightening the original steelwork using heat and force, until 10 December 2018.^[2] Most of the original steelwork was retained.^[2] It was one of the last bridges in Aberdeenshire that were damaged during Storm Frank to be repaired; only the Cambus O' May bridge repairs took longer.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Polhollick, Suspension Bridge". Canmore – National Record of the Historic Environment. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Ballater's popular Seven Bridges Walk to reopen following repairs to Polhollick Footbridge – Aberdeenshire Council". Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
^ ^a ^b Stephen, John Rothney (September 2004), Challenges posed by the Geography of the Scottish Highlands to ecclesiastical endeavour over the centuries (PDF) (PhD thesis), University of Glasgow, p. 164
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Robertson, Kirsten (December 2018). "Walkers celebrate after repairs of iconic bridge in Ballater". Press and Journal. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
^ "Historic Polhollick suspension bridge reopens". BBC News. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2021.

[canmore-1] "Polhollick, Suspension Bridge". Canmore – National Record of the Historic Environment. Retrieved 28 July 2021.

[aber-2] "Ballater's popular Seven Bridges Walk to reopen following repairs to Polhollick Footbridge – Aberdeenshire Council". Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 28 July 2021.

[stephen-3] Stephen, John Rothney (September 2004), Challenges posed by the Geography of the Scottish Highlands to ecclesiastical endeavour over the centuries (PDF) (PhD thesis), University of Glasgow, p. 164

[robertson-4] Robertson, Kirsten (December 2018). "Walkers celebrate after repairs of iconic bridge in Ballater". Press and Journal. Retrieved 28 July 2021.

[5] "Historic Polhollick suspension bridge reopens". BBC News. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2021.

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