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Stow Old Bridge is a historic stone bridge located in Midlothian, Scotland, crossing the Gala Water in a landscape underlain by Gala Group wacke bedrock of Telychian age. The bridge stands as evidence of medieval and early modern infrastructure development in the Scottish Borders region, where river crossings were essential for trade, communication and the movement of goods between settlements.
The bridge's construction reflects traditional masonry techniques adapted to the local geology. The wacke stone underlying the site, originating from ancient sedimentary deposits laid down during the Silurian period, provided suitable material for quarrying and building. Such stone, once worked, proves durable for bridge construction and has weathered the demands of centuries of traffic and the Gala Water's seasonal flows.
The structure is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2855, recognising its importance as a surviving example of vernacular bridge engineering. It remains a testament to how medieval builders addressed the practical challenges of traversing rivers in the Midlothian landscape, using materials at hand and construction methods suited to their purpose and available technology.
Stow,old bridge is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2855. View the official record →
Stow Old Bridge is a historic stone bridge located in Midlothian, Scotland, crossing the Gala Water in a landscape underlain by Gala Group wacke bedrock of Telychian age. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2855.
Stow,old bridge is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM2855.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Our Lady's Chapel,chapel 350m N of Torsonce (0.7 km), Bow Castle,broch 1000m E of Bow (2.7 km), Windydoors Farm, Bastle (5.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Stow,old bridge's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Stow,old bridge stands on Gala Group, bedrock that formed in the Telychian. The rock here is wacke.