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The Bridges
The White Bridge
Stonehaven lies between two streams which are the river Carron and the river Cowie, small though they are they had proved quite a worry to the magistrates of the burgh.
The main bridge over the river Carron was built by Robert Barclay in 1871 and the Cowie bridge was in existence before that.
First the Carron. At one time before the Stonehaven bridge was built, the coaches from the south passed through the water where the White Bridge now stands. At first the White bridge was a wooden structure as was the Green Bridge at the beginning of the Carron Terrace. They were still floors with planks in 1886. In 1892 they were given concrete floors and iron railings.
The Green & Red Bridge
There was a great demand for bridges to span the waters of Stonehaven. The first secure one opened on February 8th 1882 by Provost Wood, it was a wooden bridge at the end of Ironfield Lane by the efforts of Robert Sievewright and Sieve Brig. The other two bridges at Beachgate and Market Lane were opened with a great flourish on June 1st 1882. The platform party, followed by a crowd, set off from the Town Hall and proceeded along Beachgate to the new bridge which was made of concrete with ornamental railings. The arch at the end of the bridge was decorated with an arch of flowers and the legend Always Welcome. The party crossed the bridge and proceeded to Market Lane where another archway of flowers where placed around the other bridge with a motto of Dominus Fecit which was the motto of the Bairds) on the arch. At the street end of the bridge the opening speeches were delivered by Provost Wood, Mr Baird of Ury and Sheriff Thomson, while in the interval Stonehaven Brass Band which was played under Mr. D. B. Greig gave his musical selections. This ceremony was followed by a lunch in the Town Hall.
The Green & Red Bridge
The Cowie Bridge
It was guided round the millwright's at the corner and along the eastern side of the town to meet with the river Carron, when together the two steams made their way to the sea. The result of this was that the water had to be crossed before the beach could be reached.
Now all four bridges are a the thing of the past.
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