Celebrations are planned to mark the bicentenary of a well-known Stewartry landmark.
This year marks 200 years since John Rennie’s magnificent five arch Ken Bridge was completed.
The River Ken defines the Glenkens; it also divides it. In medieval times it was an important crossing by ford or ferry on the pilgrim way to St Ninian’s shrine but the Ken’s notorious floods often made the route to Whithorn impassable. Early bridges never lasted long.
As the Industrial Revolution gathered pace, reliable transport links were essential if rural areas were to share in the new prosperity.
In the 1790s, local people raised money to build a wooden bridge which would carry wagons weighing up to two tons. But, like earlier efforts, the bridge of 1795 was soon washed away.
Undeterred, the people of the Glenkens pressed ahead with plans for improved transport. The challenge was taken up by one of the most celebrated bridge builders of the day, John Rennie.
He began his career building mills, harbours and canals before turning to bridges. London’s Waterloo Bridge (later rebuilt in Arizona) was an early triumph.
His bridges can be found across Britain and as far afield as Naples and Lucknow. His last challenge was the crossing of the Ken. After his 1811 bridge was washed away, he designed the 420ft long five-arch structure standing today.
Its high arch to allow canal shipping from Dalry to the Solway was never needed. Work started on the bridge on May 19, 1821, and took 19 months to complete.
Rennie visited the site in July that year and appeared well-pleased with the progress on the structure. Five times the Ken’s floods threatened the work. On October 3 the water rose 8ft in three hours - but the crisis passed. The next day Rennie died in London.
To celebrate the achievement of Rennie and his bridge, groups from across the Glenkens have come together to create the Ken Bridge 200 programme of events.
It starts with the CatStrand Photography group staging an exhibition at Balmaclellan Village Hall from August 4 to 28. It will be open from 10am to 2pm each day with light refreshments available at weekends. The exhibition then moves to the CatStrand in New Galloway between August 29 and October 1.
Also planned is the Crossing the Water story parade on August 27, Ken Words: Autumn Story ceilidh on September 23, The Glenkens Story: Crossing the Ken bridges, fords and ferries on September 24 and a culmination of the celebrations with Under The Bridge on September 25.
A number of local organisations are involved and support has come from DG Unlimited, The Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership, The Loch Ken Trust, the Glenkens District Trust and Drax.
The programme is also supported by the Year of Stories 2022 Community Stories Fund. This fund is being delivered in partnership between VisitScotland and Museums Galleries Scotland with support from National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players.
