Kelvinbridge

Kelvinbridge is the common name of the Great Western Bridge, a cast iron road and pedestrian bridge located in the West End of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, built to carry the Great Western Road (A82) at a high level across the River Kelvin.[2] Completed in 1891 by Bell & Miller, it replaced an older stone bridge (completed 1840),[3][4] and has a similar design to the Partick Bridge[5] crossing the same river, located a short distance to the south-west. It has been a Category A listed structure since 1986.[3]

This article is about the bridge across the river Kelvin. For a measuring instrument, see Kelvin bridge.

Kelvinbridge
  • Scottish Gaelic: Drochaid Chaol-Aibhne[1]
  • Scots: Kelvinbrig[1]

The Great Western Road bridge over the River Kelvin on a sunny day. (19 April 2007)
Kelvinbridge
Location within Glasgow
OS grid referenceNS574669
Council area
Lieutenancy area
  • Glasgow
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townGLASGOW
Postcode districtG4
Dialling code0141
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

In the early 19th century, the first Great Western Bridge (1825) provided a crossing point across the boundary of the city and into the neighbouring burgh of Hillhead, which was incorporated into the city later. It was at a low level, whereas the second, larger bridge was built over a high span.[6][7][8]

The river lends its name to adjacent places at several points along its course (Kelvindale, Kelvingrove Park, Kelvinhaugh and Kelvinside for example) and so there are several 'Kelvin Bridges', including one several miles away in Torrance.

The Great Western Road bridge over the River Kelvin on an overcast day (2007)

Adjacent to the bridge is Kelvinbridge subway station on the Glasgow Subway - one of the deepest on the circuit due to the proximity of the river - on the south east-side of the bridge. This was also the location of Kelvinbridge railway station on the Glasgow Central Railway. Due to these other uses, the name Kelvinbridge is also used to refer to the residential areas in the vicinity of the bridge, encompassing parts of the neighbourhoods of Woodside, Woodlands, Kelvinside and Hillhead.

The Glasgow Academy private school is nearby on the Hillhead side of the valley, with Lansdowne Church (1863) - featuring a spire which at 66 metres (217 ft) is among the tallest structures in the city[9] - on the opposite bank. Due to the proximity of the University of Glasgow, the Kelvinbridge locality accommodates many students.

References
  1. List of railway station names in English, Scots and Gaelic – NewsNetScotland Archived 22 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Great Western Bridge (Mitchell Library, Glasgow Collection), The Glasgow Story
  3. Glasgow, Great Western Road, Great Western Bridge, Canmore
  4. Great Western Road, Scotcities
  5. Glasgow, Dumbarton Road, Partick Bridge, Canmore
  6. Glasgow, Great Western Road, Great Western Bridge (I), Canmore
  7. Kelvin Bridges (Mitchell Library, Glasgow Collection, Prints Collection, 1842), The Glasgow Story
  8. Old Bridge over the Kelvin (Burrell Collection Photo Library, 1888), The Glasgow Story
  9. Lansdowne Church at Emporis
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