Kelvin Bridge or Great Western Bridge, Glasgow, is a Category A listed bridge designed by Bell & Miller (Robert Bruce Bell, c.1823-1883, and Daniel Miller, 1826-1888) of Glasgow — the same engineering partnership that designed and supervised the construction of the Albert Bridge and the South Portland Street Suspension Footbridge over the Clyde. Replacing earlier bridges, this one opened in 1891 and crosses the River Kelvin from the western part of the city to Hillhead.
Described as a "classic of late Victorian engineering," and "very impressive from the riverside," it has "two large cast-iron arches of four-centred profile, each 277m (91ft) soan and of nine parallel ribs, a 9.4 (31-ft) cast iron arch at each end and short approaches faced with sandstone" (Williamson et al. 629). As seen above, it is also decorated with some heraldic arms, a testimony to civic, national and local pride. These are the arms of Glasgow and Lanarkshire. The crest of Hillhead is shown as well. Yet, as these authors point out, this attractive bridge attracts little attention from the traveller, because it is level with the approach roads at both sides.
Photograph by Colin Price, with commentary and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. You may use the image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or to the Victorian Web in a print document. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
Related Material
Bibliography
"Daniel Miller". Grace's Guide. Web. 9 September 2019.
Great Western Bridge, Glasgow." Grace's Guide. Web. 9 September 2019.
"Robert Bruce Bell." Grace's Guide. Web. 9 September 2019.
Williamson, Elizabeth, Ann Riches and Macolm Higgs. Glasgow. The Buildings of Scotland series. London: Penguin, 1990.
Created 8 September 2019