Though it’s been partially closed since 2018 for repairs, traditionally North Bridge has performed a vital role in conveying the bulk of traffic between the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, which it was built to link.
Having replaced an older stone bridge constructed in the 1770s, the current incarnation of the bridge was opened in 1897, and its south west extent was famously home to The Scotsman and Edinburgh Evening News for much of the 20th century.
We have dug deep through the picture archives to bring you 19 photos showing the historic North Bridge through the years.
We have dug deep through the picture archives to bring you 19 photos showing the historic North Bridge through the years.
![View of the North British Hotel with North Bridge in the foreground with tramlines.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjA1YWNiMzY3LTNlMzktNGM2OS1iYmUyLTNhZGEwYzM5NjY5NzowOTdlMTcwOC0zOGFjLTQ2M2MtOTIxZS05NDU0NzcxMjg0NjI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
17. North Bridge 1930s
View of the North British Hotel with North Bridge in the foreground with tramlines. Photo: Unknown
![A view of the Carlton Hotel on North Bridge in Edinburgh, 1960s.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmNmODQ0ZTBhLTAxYzgtNDU4Mi04ZDY0LWQyNTgzMDVmZmQ1YTowZjU2YWJiMS0yMmNkLTRiZjEtYjZhMi0zYWZhM2MwMjExMjQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
18. Carlton Hotel
A view of the Carlton Hotel on North Bridge in Edinburgh, 1960s. Photo: Alan Ledgerwood
![North Bridge in Edinburgh is closed to traffic when a crane delivers a steel beam, part of Patrick Thomson's new escalators, in August 1971. Pedestrians stop to watch.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjdkYjNlNjA5LWYwYzctNDgzNy05YzRhLWQ5YjczMzFjMzQ4YzozMjRlZDczOS0wZWMxLTQ1NGUtYTBmOC04MWFjYjU0OTVjNjI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
19. Crane delivering escalator part
North Bridge in Edinburgh is closed to traffic when a crane delivers a steel beam, part of Patrick Thomson's new escalators, in August 1971. Pedestrians stop to watch. Photo: Alex Brown
![Looking up North Bridge in Edinburgh, with the Scotsman newspaper building on the right, from behind the Duke of Wellington's statue in May 1986.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmFkNzE4YjE2LTU3NDUtNGRkOC05ZmIxLWNiYTQ2ZjYxMTQ2MDo3NjQ3NGY1Mi0wOGExLTQ3M2QtYmQ4Yy0zZGFhOGJhNDY2OTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
20. North Bridge from Wellington statue 1986
Looking up North Bridge in Edinburgh, with the Scotsman newspaper building on the right, from behind the Duke of Wellington's statue in May 1986. Photo: Stan Warburton