The Bridge That Time Buried: An Unexpected Discovery
Work continues at a pace at River Park, with activity ranging from tree planting to boardwalk construction. Progress slowed briefly a few weeks ago however, when construction workers uncovered an old bridge that once crossed the Kirkland Mill lade, linking Methil Mill with the rest of Methil.
The archaeology team think that the bridge was originally constructed in the 18th century, around the same time as the Kirkland Lade. It is in a good state of repair and was made from large sandstone blocks and had a cobbled surface. We can still see the wheel ruts where the carts and trucks would have passed over it, taking wheat and barley to the mill to be turned into flour. There is also some evidence of repair work on the bridge, indicating that it was well looked after.
The bridge crosses the Kirkland Lade, which once carried water to the Kirkland Works. A lade is an artificial channel that takes water from a river and directs it towards a mill and other factories that required water power.
The Kirkland Works once housed several mills, including a Bleaching Mill, Weaving Mill, Hacking Mill, Spinning Mills, and a Sailcloth and Linen Manufactory. All depended on water power drawn from the River Leven. The national steel works later replaced the Kirkland Works, and by the 1970s the lade had been filled in. At this point, the bridge appears to have been buried and was no longer in use. We would love to hear from local people who remember the bridge, or who have any stories or memories to share about the lade.
The archaeology team carefully cleaned the bridge, removing dirt and overburden so they could carry out a detailed building survey. They recorded the structure by photographing and describing each of its features. This work will help archaeologists better understand the site and help them produce a detailed report. The team will submit this report to the local Monuments Record and the National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE), ensuring that information about the bridge is preserved and shared with people interested in this important piece of Levenmouth Heritage.
It is hoped that the bridge will be kept and that visitors to the park will be able to enjoy this unique piece of Levenmouth history.