Thomas Telford’s three sandstone arches survive beside the later A71 crossing as a particularly complete remnant of the Edinburgh–Ayr turnpike.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1820–23; dated 1821; bypassed 1965
- Architect / designer
- Thomas Telford
- Type
- Three-span sandstone turnpike-road bridge
- Designation
- Listed building, Category A (LB6452)
- OS grid reference
- NS 76547 47435
Architecture and continuing use
Three round arches cross the wooded Cander Water on tapered ashlar piers. Rusticated voussoirs, channelled soffits, a continuous impost band and parapets ending in pyramidal-capped dies turn a practical road bridge into a disciplined Classical composition.
Its story
Telford designed the crossing during improvement of the Edinburgh–Ayr route. Construction ran from 1820 to 1823, with 1821 carved into the bridge. A replacement crossing opened nearby in 1965, removing through traffic while leaving the older structure intact.
Why it is included
Category A listing recognises the only surviving Telford bridge of this specific type and an unusually legible component of the national turnpike network around Stonehouse.
What to notice
- The regular rhythm of three equal round arches.
- Putlog holes associated with the original centring.
- The contrast between the historic alignment and later road crossing.
Reading the surroundings
Do not assume the bypassed carriageway is maintained for public crossing. Observe from lawful routes, avoid steep banks and water, and follow any closure or inspection notices.
Timeline
- 1820 Construction began on Telford’s new turnpike crossing.
- 1821 The date now visible on the bridge was cut into its fabric.
- 1965 A replacement crossing removed through traffic from the old bridge.
- 1992 The structure entered the statutory list at Category A.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The designation confirms bypass and survival but not present crossing rights or recent structural condition. Visitors should not infer access from the old roadway.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Canderside Bridge, LB6452 — Current designation status, official mapped location, date, fabric and significance.
- Trove designation: LB6452 — Parallel national designation identity and archival context.
- Stonehouse Online: roads and bridges — Local historical account of Telford roads, Canderside and Linthaugh bridges, bypasses and repair history.
- Stonehouse community heritage guide — Local historical context for Stonehouse churches, public buildings, turnpike roads and settlement development.
Location
OS grid reference NS 76547 47435 · Location confidence: High: the current national designation supplies an exact mapped National Grid Reference; public text separately states access and current-use uncertainty. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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