Pack Horse Bridge at Carrbridge, Scotland
by Marcy Wielfaert
Title
Pack Horse Bridge at Carrbridge, Scotland
Artist
Marcy Wielfaert
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
A packhorse bridge is defined by Ernest Hinchliffe as a bridge built before 1800, less than six feet wide (not particularly wide when one considers a person can be six feet tall), and located on a specified packhorse route (regular trade routes before the 19th century). These packhorse bridges remain national monuments in the British Isles, but Carrbridge is one of only five in Scotland. The oldest surviving packhorse bridge in the Scottish Highlands, the "coffin bridge" at Carrbridge remains one of the most significant. Built in 1717, this packhorse bridge is located near the city of Inverness, capital of the Highlands, and was erected in an arch from "tooled rubble…springing from natural rock abutment". Before the 18th century, it was nearly impossible to carry the deceased from the town to the cemetery at Duthil Churchyard when the River Dulnain was high. Due to this, many burials were prevented from occurring until well after the date of death. The church paid for this commissioned bridge so that funerals could be held on a more timely basis.
Uploaded
May 23rd, 2022
Statistics
Viewed 1,709 Times - Last Visitor from Seattle, WA on 04/23/2024 at 10:36 AM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
