atoll

By atoll

Shakkin' Briggie

I was doing a little rekky around the wider context of Garthdee Campus of Robert Gordon University and discovered this bridge and filmed it on YouTube.

No relation to Michael Barratt aka that other Shaky this it seems is the fondly known Shakkin' Briggie that I was amazed to find out afterwards even has its own Wikipedia entry. It is a derelict old suspension footbridge that crosses (or used to) the River Dee from Ardoe to Cults, to the west of Aberdeen city.

As well as Wikipedia I also found a mad bridge fanzine' called Bridgemeister that also lists it. Wonders never cease, but thank go for enthusiasts and eccentics (often one and the same).

St. Devenick's Bridge (also locally known as Morison's Bridge or the Shakkin' Briggie), was built by the Rev. Dr. George Morison (1758 - 1845), who proposed the bridge to link his church on the south bank of the Dee to 700 parishioners resident on the north bank. It was (says Wikipedia): "....damaged by floods in 1876, 1914 and most seriously in October 1920, when floodwaters rose above the level of the bridge deck. Public funds were sought and the bridge reopened in September 1922. However, due to erosion, the Dee shifted its course from 1955 onwards, sweeping away the southern approach spans, and in 1984 the decking was removed as a safety precaution. The bridge is a Category A listed structure....".

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