Heriot Water and Gorgie Road Bridges, Scotland : Ferro-Concrete Review, Volume XV, Number 7, January 1924
The Ferro-Concrete Review was a monthly journal produced to publicise the Mouchel-Hennebique method of reinforced concrete construction 'in engineering and architetcural practice'. Edited by W Noble Twelvetrees it is a highly informative periodical full of details and illustrations of numerous contemporary construction projects. The Mouchel-Hennebique method was the result of the engineer L G Mouchel being the British agent for the Hennebique French/Belgian method of early concrete reinforcement patented by François Hennebique (1842-1921).
The reconstruction of road bridges is often commented on in the Journal, at a time when increasing demands on highway infrastructure in post-WW1 years met with the relatively 'new' technology of reinforced concrete. Whereas many of the bridge illustrated have long been swept away in later reocnstructions it is remarkable how many still stand, in regular use, a centrury after construction.
The January 1924 issued looks at a number of bridges in Scotland. These pages look at two structures, the first being a bridge described as "Heriot Water Bridge", reconstructed for the Midlothian County Council under the superitenence of the County Road Surveyor, Mr R Moir, and with works carried out by Messrs Gray's Ferro-Concrete Co. It is not easy to pinpoint this bridge as names and locations are difficult to marry up especially as the A7 at this point has been extensively re-routed and reconstructed. I wonder if it is is not the bridge over the Gala Water adjacent to what was the site of the original Fountainhall station?
The second bridge was also a bit of a puzzle as this 'Gorgie Road' bridge, that I suspect spans the Water of Leith, does not align well with the current span that carries the A70 over the river. It may have been reocnstructed again, subsequently, possibly for the tramways extension? The bridge carries the then common ornate lamp standards that still exist, sadly disused, on many of the bridges in Edinburgh from this time. The building to the left, with the lion shields, looks interesting! The 'artistic' bridge was built to the designs of the 'late' City Architect, Mr George Morham. It's now been clarified that this is the bridge, still extant, that formed the entrance to Saughton Park and the site of the Scottish National Exhibition 1908 - the lion rampant decorating the now demolished entrance pavilion.
Heriot Water and Gorgie Road Bridges, Scotland : Ferro-Concrete Review, Volume XV, Number 7, January 1924
The Ferro-Concrete Review was a monthly journal produced to publicise the Mouchel-Hennebique method of reinforced concrete construction 'in engineering and architetcural practice'. Edited by W Noble Twelvetrees it is a highly informative periodical full of details and illustrations of numerous contemporary construction projects. The Mouchel-Hennebique method was the result of the engineer L G Mouchel being the British agent for the Hennebique French/Belgian method of early concrete reinforcement patented by François Hennebique (1842-1921).
The reconstruction of road bridges is often commented on in the Journal, at a time when increasing demands on highway infrastructure in post-WW1 years met with the relatively 'new' technology of reinforced concrete. Whereas many of the bridge illustrated have long been swept away in later reocnstructions it is remarkable how many still stand, in regular use, a centrury after construction.
The January 1924 issued looks at a number of bridges in Scotland. These pages look at two structures, the first being a bridge described as "Heriot Water Bridge", reconstructed for the Midlothian County Council under the superitenence of the County Road Surveyor, Mr R Moir, and with works carried out by Messrs Gray's Ferro-Concrete Co. It is not easy to pinpoint this bridge as names and locations are difficult to marry up especially as the A7 at this point has been extensively re-routed and reconstructed. I wonder if it is is not the bridge over the Gala Water adjacent to what was the site of the original Fountainhall station?
The second bridge was also a bit of a puzzle as this 'Gorgie Road' bridge, that I suspect spans the Water of Leith, does not align well with the current span that carries the A70 over the river. It may have been reocnstructed again, subsequently, possibly for the tramways extension? The bridge carries the then common ornate lamp standards that still exist, sadly disused, on many of the bridges in Edinburgh from this time. The building to the left, with the lion shields, looks interesting! The 'artistic' bridge was built to the designs of the 'late' City Architect, Mr George Morham. It's now been clarified that this is the bridge, still extant, that formed the entrance to Saughton Park and the site of the Scottish National Exhibition 1908 - the lion rampant decorating the now demolished entrance pavilion.