IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
The Brae, STIRLING, FK7 8LR

18th century houses built when Bannockburn had an important carpet and weaving industry powered by the fast flowing Bannock Burn.

18th century houses built at the time when Bannockburn had a thriving carpet and weaving industry powered by the fast flowing Bannock Burn.

Once a carpet factory, but now the meeting place of the Stirling Christadelphians, and one of several places of worship in and around the centre of Bannockburn.

Built 1833. The Listed Building Report, December 1974, notes the state of the building as 'very derelict'. Clearly, significant restoration has taken place since then.

Small weir on the river a little upstream from the former Royal George carpet mill and though it had a lade going into it from a weir it does not look as if this is that weir.

This area has been a crossing point on the Bannock Burn for hundreds of years. Originally a shallow ford, in 1516 one of Stirling's well connected and wealthy patrons, Robert Spittal, had a bridge erected. This is now a weak bridge.

This area has been a crossing point on the Bannock Burn for hundreds of years. Originally a shallow ford, in 1516 one of Stirling's well connected and wealthy patrons, Robert Spittal, had a bridge erected. This is now a weak bridge.

Built in 1516. See Image for another view and the RCAHMS record http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/47247/details/bannockburn+old+town+old+bridge/.

Unlike the street view this photo from the valley floor conveys the size of this old mill. Bannockburn was a centre for carpet manufacture in the 19th. century with at least six factories lining the banks of the Bannock. Another view: Image RCAHMS record: http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/47265/details/bannockburn+new+road+masonic+hall/

Spittal's Bridge in the old town of Bannockburn spans the Bannock Burn and has an overall length of 158 feet, including the approaches. It consists of a single segmental arch which has a span of 33ft 10 inches and rises to a height of 14 feet 7 inches. A panel, set within a moulded border, is placed over the crown of the arch on the west side of the bridge bears the following inscription: THIS BRIDGE WAS/BUILT BY ROBERT/SPITTAL TAYLOR/TO KING JAMES/ THE FOURTH 1516/ PRO PATRIA/ ET POSTERIS/ REPAIRED BY THE JU/STICES OF PEACE 1710/ 12 FEET ADDED TO/ THE BREADTH BY THE/ TRUSTEES 1781. The inscription is incised and incorporates a pair of scissors carved in relief. Although the panel can hardly be earlier in date than the last 18th century, its inscription may embody an authentic tradition. If this is so, the older part of the present structure would date from the early 16th century, repairs having been effected in 1631 and 1710 and a more general remodelling of the bridge having been undertaken in 1781. The bridge is listed by Historic Scotland as an Ancient Scheduled Monument. (Extract from a Bannockburn community website which is no longer online).