Alternative Names Ocean Drive; Water Of Leith; Inner Harbour; Albert Dock; Victoria Dock
Site type SWING BRIDGE
Canmore ID 51986
Site Number NT27NE 57.42
NGR NT 27085 76817
Council EDINBURGH, CITY OF
Parish EDINBURGH (EDINBURGH, CITY OF)
Former Region LOTHIAN
Former District CITY OF EDINBURGH
Former County MIDLOTHIAN

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Archaeological Notes

NT27NE 57.42 27085 76817

Victoria Bridge
(swing) [NAT]
OS 1:1250 map, 1970.

Formerly entered as NT27NE 61.

For successor fixed structure (Victoria Bridge, at NT 768549 27063), see NT27NE 57.59.

The hydraulically-operated Victoria Swing Bridge across the Inner Harbour, linking the Albert Dock (NT27NE 57.38) to the Victoria Dock (NT27NE 57.06), also by Rendel and Robertson, 1871-4, was replaced later with a bowstring swing bridge.
J Gifford, C McWilliam and D Walker 1984.

This swing bridge was once driven by the adjacent hydraulic power station (NT27NE 57.34).
Visited by RCAHMS (MKO), 9 June 1993

This site has only been partially upgraded for SCRAN. For further information, please consult the Architecture Catalogues for City of Edinburgh District..
March 1998

This bridge formerly carried a private road and dock railway across the mouth of the Water of Leith on the S side of the Leith dock system (NT27NE 57.00). Its location probably represents the former shoreline.
Following the extensive remodelling of the S side of the dock estate, it now carries a road (Ocean Drive) which passes in front of the Scottish Executive (formerly Scottish Office) building (Victoria Quay: NT27NE ). It is separated by fencing from the remaining operational portion of the dock system.
Hydraulic power has presumably been supplied to this bridge from the hydraulic power station (NT27NE 57.34) situated adjacent to the NE. The swinging-recess is on the E side.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 13 June 2006.

Notes and Activities

1871 to 1874

CONSTRUCTION

Notes Victoria Bridge linked east and west side of Leith Harbour, specifically Edinburgh Dock (1874-1881) with Albert Dock (1862-69). Rendel worked on both these docks and ancillary structures such as the swing bridge.

Further details

2007

PROJECT

Notes This project was undertaken to input site information listed in 'Civil engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' by R Paxton and J Shipway, 2007.

Further details

2007	PUBLICATION ACCOUNT

Project Civil Engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders

Notes The construction of the Albert and Edinburgh Docks made it necessary to have an efficient means of communication between the east and west side of the harbour for road and railway use which led to the construction of the Victoria Swing Bridge from 1871 to 1874. Its girders, with an overall length of 212 ft and clear span of 120 ft, are made of wrought-iron and the clear roadway width is 24 ft. The gross weight is 620 tons, including 60 tons of timber and 240 tons of kentledge counterweight which was, but is no longer, lifted and easily turned by means of hydraulic rams. Its clear span is said to have been the largest of any swing bridge in the United Kingdom until the opening of Kincardine Bridge in 1937. The engineers were Rendel and Robertson (resident engineer J. H. Bostock). The contractors for the foundations were McDonald & Grant and, for the bridge, Skerne Iron Works (late Pease, Hutchison & Co., Darlington who made the ironwork). The cost was about £30 000.

R Paxton and J Shipway 2007

Reproduced from 'Civil Engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' with kind permission of Thomas Telford Publishers.


Further details

Books and References

Gifford, McWilliam and Walker, J, C and D (1984) Edinburgh, The Buildings of Scotland series Harmondsworth
Page(s): 461 Held at RCAHMS Quick

Somner, G (2004) Port of Leith and Granton, Stroud
Page(s): plan pp. 6-7 Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.SOM

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