Centuries ago, Edinburgh in its formative years was crumbling under overcrowding and filthy streets - a capital city that was feeling the effects of economic stagnation.
Responding to these issues, Lord Provost George Drummond suggested extending the city towards Leith.
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What we now know as the New Town was proposed, creating a spacious scape of symmetrical streets with terraced townhouses to serve the wealthy aristocracy who had been spending their money in London.
Aside from wealth, another more physical barrier stood between the Old and New Towns. The Nor Loch separated the areas, and it became clear that a structure was needed to cross over the body of water.
Today North Bridge has become one of Edinburgh’s most instantly recognisable structures, though the bridge that stands today is the second iteration of the connection.
The first North Bridge was built by Scottish architect and engineer William Mylne, with the Lord Provost laying the first stone in October 1763.
A contract for the build wasn’t signed until 1765, with the bridge expected within four years to the tune of £10,140 (over £2million today).
The grand arched bridge opened to pedestrians in 1769, to the excitement of locals. This elation would fizzle out quickly.
During construction, workers had thrown earth from the steep hills at either side into the middle towards the Nor Loch. As a result, the ground consisted mainly of loose earth.
On Thursday, 3 August 1769 the walls on the south end of the structure collapsed, with parts of the bridge following. Five lives were tragically lost.
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Scottish newspaper the Caledonian Mercury reported the discoveries of the bodies: “Buried in the rubbish, occasioned by the fall of walls of the south abutment of the new bridge over the north loch.”
It continues: “As mentioned in our laft, found the body of one of the names of Lawfon, a shoemaker, and afterwards that of Mr James Fergus, writer in Edinburgh.
“They have been digging ever since, almost night and day, but without further success, though it is supposed there are three or four others who shared the same unhappy fate with the two already found.”
A full inquiry followed, identifying the poor construction and badly estimated depths of foundations as the major causes behind the disaster. Rebuilds cost £18,000, almost double the cost of the original project.
It was three years until the grand reopening, though this is not the bridge we see today.
The original structure continued on for over a century after the 1890s, until it was decided that an updated link was needed to improve traffic flow, as well as make way for the expansion of Waverley Station.
The current bridge that stands in the city centre today was completed in 1897, at a cost of £81,000.
Sir William Arrol & Co constructed the updated bridge, the company who was also behind the Forth Bridge.
