Bridge to Heaven

This old packhorse bridge with its three arches and low walls was built in 1655 to link the main road from Edinburgh to Hawick on the west bank of the Gala Water with the old 15th century church on the east side at Stow. It was funded by subscriptions for the convenience of those worshippers on the west bank and the money given to the church session to manage the project. At that time the subscribers believed that by donating money to the church they had more chance of getting to heaven when they died.
So it is sometimes known as the Bridge to Heaven or the Subscription Bridge.