2015 Lido Evidence of bridge by Gerry Young

I recently posted a couple of photos from Gerry Young who mentioned when the River Clyde was low in October 2015, he noticed the remains of a pier or jetty near Craighead and Bothwell Bridge. Well, upon further investigation, the remains appear even more interesting, as they look as though they are spanning the river Clyde itself!

There’s no little bridge shown on any map and this can only be seen from the Lido at exceptionally low river levels, but zooming in, some of the support appear to be metal. Warning signs! It looks like it may have been a sewer or pipe bridge crossing from Blantyre to Bothwell. If so, this would have made a significant obstruction in the river itself, and must have frequently been blocked by logs. I think it would have been short lived, and changed my mind about this being old. Metal supports certainly suggests 20th Century.

I think I’ve got to the bottom of it. This was in the Motherwell Times for the 4th January 1924 and I wondered if it might have something to do with what sticking up out of the water.

“These and minutes and recommendations were approved on Friday, and also a further minute agreeing that a pipe should now be laid between Cambuslang and Uddingston Gas Works, linking up the two undertakings. Powers had been obtained to lay the portion between the Bothwell Bridge and Blantyre, and it was decided to seek further powers to lay the portion between Blantyre and Cambuslang, the estimated cost being £6625.“

It would appear that in 1924 a gas pipe was laid between the Parishes likely on this support structure. After trams were abandoned and the road relaid on Bothwell Bridge in the 1930’s, this would have been the perfect time to take the gas right across the bridge, abandoning the pipebridge.

Still, a very interesting photo and one good to document here.