Ayr’s historic Auld Brig came close to being demolished in the late 19th century, but determined campaigning by architect James A Morris and financial support led by Richard Oswald helped secure the future of one of the town’s best-known landmarks.
The bridge crossing the River Ayr has served as a gateway to Ayr’s old town since at least the 13th century. It is mentioned in a charter granted by Alexander II in 1236, although the earliest crossing was likely made of timber.
The structure familiar to residents today was probably built during the reign of King James IV, around 1491. Records state that the King was travelling through Ayr to Whithorn on a pilgrimage to St Ninian when the bridge was being constructed. On his return, he is said to have given money to the stone masons working on the project.
From medieval crossing to threatened landmark
The bridge also carries a local legend about two sisters named Lowe. According to the story, Isobel saw her lover drown, and carvings representing the sisters were placed on a stone on the bridge’s east parapet. Faded remains of the carvings were reportedly still visible during the 19th century, although the historical account questions how much of the story can be verified.
In 1732, the Auld Brig’s north buttress collapsed. It was repaired and survived for another century, but by the late 1800s Ayr Town Council believed the bridge should be demolished and replaced.
James A Morris, an architect from Ayr, led the campaign to save it. Morris’s work can still be seen in and around the town, including the Balgarth, Savoy Park and the house he built at Savoy Croft. He was also responsible for the building that became the Bobby Jones Ballroom, originally constructed as a drill hall for the Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1901.
How the preservation campaign succeeded
Morris continued his efforts despite the involvement of William Arrol and Co. Richard Oswald of Auchincruive then intervened, using pressure from himself and his friends to help Morris demonstrate that the bridge could be preserved in its existing form.
The council eventually agreed to retain the Auld Brig, but the project faced a further financial obstacle. Preservation work required another £10,000, with half of the money expected to come from private benefactors.
Oswald chaired a committee that sought subscriptions and quickly raised the sum needed for the work to go ahead. The account says Oswald is believed to have made a personal gift to the project.
The Auld Brig in its present form was opened on July 29, 1910. Morris later campaigned in the late 1920s to prevent the demolition of the Old Poorhouse in Mill Street, although that effort was unsuccessful.
The history of Ayr’s other medieval crossing, the Brig o’ Doon, is due to feature in a subsequent instalment of the Auld Ayr series.