Victoria Bridge
(Stockwell Bridge)

Victoria Bridge, Glasgow
©2011 Gazetteer for Scotland

Victoria Bridge is the oldest surviving bridge crossing the River Clyde. Also known as Stockwell Bridge, after the area to its north, it was opened in 1854 at a cost of £50,000 to replace the Bishop's Bridge, which could not cope with the expanding population of Glasgow. On completion, this bridge was the second widest in Britain.

This is said to be the third bridge built on this site. The first was a wooden bridge dating from the 13th Century which was the earliest recorded bridge in Glasgow. The second was built in 1345 on the instructions of Bishop Rae and comprised eight stone arches. It had to be repaired in 1671 after one of these arches collapsed, was widened in 1777 and had a footpath added in 1821 by Thomas Telford (1757 - 1834). Dredging of the river finally undermined the foundation of this old bridge and the foundation stone of the new bridge was laid on 1851 by George Murray, 6th Duke of Atholl (1814-64).

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