Union Bridge

Commissioned by the town council, with advice from Thomas Telford, the bridge was designed by David Hamilton and Thomas Fletcher. With a span of 130 feet, this great engineering feat had every stone dressed by hand using hammers and picks. The arch of the bridge is evidence of the way that Union street itself was built. From what was the crown of St Katherine's Hill (the north end of Shiprow), a series of arches were built westward. However, most of these arches are now hidden beneath the street. The bridging of the Denburn encouraged citizens, particularly the affluent, to escape the noises, smells and unsainitary conditions of the older burgh. (Granite Trail leaflet, written by Mike Dey)

Union Bridge was one of the great engineering feats of 19th century Aberdeen. It involved bridging the Denburn Valley and the cutting of granite with the relatively rudimentary stone working technolgies of the period. As the illustration shows this included the use of picks which were responsible for producing the fine ashlar finish on the stone. All cutting,dressing and lifting of the granite was by hand. The building of this bridge opened the way for the city to move westward from its medieval confines. (Label text, written by Mike Dey)