General Wade's Bridge, Spean Bridge

General Wade's Bridge, Spean Bridge

ID: QZP40_CARD_0065 DESCRIPTION: Known as High Bridge, this bridge over the River Spean was built in 1736 as part of the military road building scheme undertaken by Lieutenant General Wade for the government. The bridge, a major engineering achievement, is 80 feet above the water. The three spans were 40 feet, 50 feet wide and 40 feet wide High Bridge was the scene of the first shot fired in the Jacobite rebellion of 1745. Donald Macdonald of Tirnadris with eleven men of Keppoch and a piper met at the inn at High Bridge to prevent the advance of two companies of Royal Scots. In order to make the redcoats think the place was heavily defended the piper played his loudest and the men spread out among the bushes making as much noise as possible. The redcoats fled but more of Keppoch's men arrived and set off in pursuit. Five redcoats were killed and the others were wounded or surrendered. PLACENAME: Spean Bridge DISTRICT: Lochaber OLD COUNTY/PARISH: INVERNESS: Kilmonivaig PERIOD: 1940s SOURCE: Highland Libraries COLLECTION: Highland Libraries' Postcard Collection Asset ID: 31952 KEYWORDS: