Smith Art Gallery & Museum | Details | The Old Bridge,Stirling

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Actions Displays	The Old Bridge,Stirling Remove from selection Add to selection Reproduction Download mediaDownload as zip file Object number19817.16 TitleThe Old Bridge,Stirling Creator John. Berriehill (Artist)‎ DescriptionToday Stirling Old Bridge is a tourist attraction, a pedestrian way looked after for the nation by Historic Scotland. But in the past, it has been crossed by kings, queens and thousands of cattle, blown up by generals and influenced the very story of Scotland. Why so important? As the lowest crossing point on the River Forth for centuries, whoever held the bridge at Stirling controlled access to the north, keeping foes at bay and collecting valuable income from tolls. There has been a bridge of some sort on this site for hundreds of years. Earlier wooden ones were replaced at some time in the 1400s or 1500s by the magnificent arched stone crossing you can see in the painting. One of the earliest timber bridges was destroyed during the nearby Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. This was where Sir William Wallace and Sir Andrew Moray led a Scottish army in a famous victory over the forces of Edward I of England. The painting shows the bridge as it was in its heyday, with arched gates at both the north and south ends. These gates have long gone, most likely removed during the 1745 Jacobite Rising. The Castle governor, General Blackeney blew up the south end of the bridge to try to stop Bonnie Prince Charlie’s army from crossing from the Highlands. Needless to say, they found a ford and crossed anyway! The Old Bridge, Stirling is a rare and early view of what to locals was an everyday sight. It was painted by John Berriehill from Alloa, who was actively working from 1700-1710 and who we know was paid to work for the Town Council. Painted in oils on wood, this painting quite possibly formed part of the decorative panelling in the council chambers. Production date 1707 Object namePainting, Oil Painting Painting MaterialOil/Panel(two boards) Dimensions image Height: 320 mm image Width: 1120 mm frame Height: 520 mm frame Height: 1270 mm

Reproduction

Download mediaDownload as zip file

Object number19817.16

TitleThe Old Bridge,Stirling

DescriptionToday Stirling Old Bridge is a tourist attraction, a pedestrian way looked after for the nation by Historic Scotland. But in the past, it has been crossed by kings, queens and thousands of cattle, blown up by generals and influenced the very story of Scotland. Why so important? As the lowest crossing point on the River Forth for centuries, whoever held the bridge at Stirling controlled access to the north, keeping foes at bay and collecting valuable income from tolls. There has been a bridge of some sort on this site for hundreds of years. Earlier wooden ones were replaced at some time in the 1400s or 1500s by the magnificent arched stone crossing you can see in the painting. One of the earliest timber bridges was destroyed during the nearby Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. This was where Sir William Wallace and Sir Andrew Moray led a Scottish army in a famous victory over the forces of Edward I of England. The painting shows the bridge as it was in its heyday, with arched gates at both the north and south ends. These gates have long gone, most likely removed during the 1745 Jacobite Rising. The Castle governor, General Blackeney blew up the south end of the bridge to try to stop Bonnie Prince Charlie’s army from crossing from the Highlands. Needless to say, they found a ford and crossed anyway! The Old Bridge, Stirling is a rare and early view of what to locals was an everyday sight. It was painted by John Berriehill from Alloa, who was actively working from 1700-1710 and who we know was paid to work for the Town Council. Painted in oils on wood, this painting quite possibly formed part of the decorative panelling in the council chambers.

Production date 1707

Object namePainting, Oil Painting

Painting

MaterialOil/Panel(two boards)

Dimensions

image Height: 320 mm
image Width: 1120 mm
frame Height: 520 mm
frame Height: 1270 mm