One of the oldest standing bridges in Scotland crosses the River Nith in Dumfries. Devorgilla Bridge is also sometimes known as Devorgilla's Bridge or the Old Bridge and is named after Devorgilla, Lady of Galloway, the mother of King John Balliol.

All the land to the west of the River Nith traditionally formed part of Galloway, which only truly became part of Scotland during Alexander II's reign in the 1230s. Dumfries was therefore a frontier town for much of its early history and had grown up on the east side of a ford that provided the lowest crossing point of the River Nith. By 1186 the town was sufficiently well established to be made a Royal Burgh.

According to some sources the first bridge was built across the River Nith at Dumfries during the 1260s by Devorgilla, Lady of Galloway. No trace of this bridge has ever been found, and if it existed at all it seems very likely that it was made of wood.

There is rather more evidence for the immediate predecessor of the bridge you see today. Construction began on a stone bridge in about 1430, and a papal indulgence of 1432 recorded the Pope's approval for a call for subscribers to pay for the completion of the bridge. This bridge survived for a little under two centuries before being partially destroyed in a major flood in 1620 or 1621. Once more accounts differ, but it seems that the east half of the bridge was swept away and what was left might well have been severely damaged.

undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/dumfries/devorgillabridge/index.html

Stuart Wilcock

October 26, 2025

The pedestrian bridge is one of the oldest in Scotland. Built in 1432, it crosses the River Nith in the town center and offers scenic views.

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Location: Corberry And Laurieknowe, South Scotland, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Devorgilla Bridge

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