£100,000 repair grant for Huntly bridge

The Huntly Castle Bridge in Huntly was once the main route out of town and crosses the River Deveron at the main entrance to the Castle Hotel.

The 17th century bridge was left with a large gap on the North side of the arched structure in February, 2009, after a substantial section of the parapet and part of the roadway fell onto to the banks of the Deveron after severe frosts and heavy snow, followed by a rapid thaw, are believed to have weakened the bridge.

But it was announced today that the local landmark is is to receive a £100,000 Building Repair Grant from Historic Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs said: “Historic buildings, such as Huntly Castle Bridge offer great opportunities for education as well as providing important landmarks in our towns and cities which are key to our identity, community and memories. This is an exciting and worthwhile project and I am delighted that it has been supported through the Building Repair Grants.”

An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said: “Huntly Castle Bridge is important, both historically, given its age of around 400 years and for its continued use as a promoted link in Aberdeenshire Council’s Core Path Network.

“The council looks forward to working with the bridge owner and Historic Scotland to implement an appropriate repair scheme which will make good the partial collapse of the bridge due to severe weather back in February 2009.”