Telford Plaque Unveiling

One of Moray’s most iconic structures, Thomas Telford’s Craigellachie Bridge, has been designated an international historic civil engineering landmark at a recent ceremony.

Over 80 civil engineers from the UK and America gathered at the cast iron bridge over the River Spey to mark the occasion, which places the landmark in the same category as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the Panama Canal.

Only 200 structures across the world have been recognised in this way.

This year marks Telford’s 250th anniversary, and Moray Council has created a series of festival events to mark the brilliant engineer’s works in the area.

Built in 1812, the 150-foot Craigellachie Bridge is the oldest surviving example of Telford’s classic prefabricated ‘lozenge-lattice’ arch design.

It was cast in sections at an iron works in Ruabon, North Wales, and transported by sea to the Moray Firth harbour of Speymouth.

Thereafter it was conveyed in horse-drawn wagons to the site.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled on the bridge by members of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Guests at the ceremony were entertained by an interactive theatre performance highlighting the role of the bridge and of those that have passed over it across the years.

The character of Thomas Telford was played by professional actor, Martin McAuslan. Telford’s travelling companion, Robert Southey, by Terry Langdale.

Moray Council has been awarded £36,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to launch a festival marking the 250th anniversary.

Match funding for this project has been provided by Highland 2007 (£15,000), Community Economic Development Programme Fund (£10,000) and the Moray Council (£11,000).

The project is part of the Highland Culture 2007 Community programme, and will celebrate the work of Telford during his time in Moray.

Born in Dumfries, Telford was involved in the building of the Spey Bridge at Fochabers in 1804, Burghead Harbour and Spynie Canal in 1808, the Findhorn and Speyside roads through Elgin in 1808/09, Aultmore Bridge in 1810, Craigellachie Bridge in 1812, Cullen Pier in 1817 and Tomintoul Church in 1827.

The festival will see the creation of a Telford Trail, linking all Moray’s sites with an explanatory leaflet, interpretation boards and exhibitions at each one.

At the Moray Art Centre in Findhorn, the Institution of Civil Engineers’ touring exhibition will be on display, alongside artwork of Telford's works created by adults and children.
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