Cumstoun Bridge

Today's the day ....................... to cross the river
 
A lovely day today with lots of sunshine - but a fair bit of wind to contend with – so, the sheltered path up to Comstoun Bridge was just the place to go for a walk.
 
Back in the 18th century, roads in this part of the country were maintained by 'statute labour' by tenants (later commuted to a local tax) and administered  by the ‘Commissioners of Supply’ – a statutory body of the landowners of the Stewartry. While some of these roads may have had a stone or gravel surface, many would be ‘natural’ roads formed by the passage of pedestrian and animal traffic. They were generally about 7 feet (2 metres) wide.
 
In 1761 the Commissioners decided to make a road from Rhonehouse to Twynholm via Tongland, possibly to bring the main east-west route nearer to Kirkcudbright. A bridge over the River Tarff was needed and in 1770 Thomas Kerr was awarded the contract to build it for £160. 
 
It’s still looking very fine today ..................