My World---Perth.

Perth, or The Fair City as it is often referred to, lies about 8 miles north of our village and grew around a crossing over the River Tay, the lowest crossing on the river till the ill-fated first Tay railway bridge was built in the late 19th century, at Dundee. There is mention of a bridge at Perth in the 13th century, which was eventually destroyed by floods. Several successive bridges were built but all were lost due to storms, and after one such storm which swept the bridge away in 1621 there was no foot crossing for 150 years. Boats were used to ferry goods across this swift flowing, treacherous part of the river, and, at one time, more than 30 boats were in operation.


Today there are 4 bridges crossing the Tay at Perth. viz. Smeaton's Bridge, usually called Perth Bridge, which was built in 1771 and proved strong enough to withstand the floods and ice floes in the river in winter; the railway bridge; Queens Bridge, just a few hundred yards downstream from Perth Bridge and opened in 1960 ; and finally, just east of the town, stands the modern, high and exposed Friarton Bridge carrying traffic, heading north, to bypass the town and make for Dundee or farther north.


For other posts in this meme look here.