Guthrie Castle Gateway Bridge
A prime example of the measures taken by early railway promoters to overcome landowner opposition, with the bridge disguised as a perpendicular arch.
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Guthrie Castle, By Forfar, Angus DD8 2TP
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The Arbroath & Forfar Railway was opened in 1836 to the gauge of 5 ft.6ins. When it was being planned, the owners of the Guthrie estate objected to the railway crossing their land. A solution was found by agreeing to cross the main entrance to the castle over a bridge disguised as a medieval gateway.
The railway was converted to standard gauge in 1848 and eventually became part of the Caledonian Railway main line to Aberdeen.
A stately edifice of east central Angus, Guthrie Castle lies immediately to the west of the village of Guthrie, 3 km west of Friockheim and 4 km northeast of Letham. Built in 1468, under a warrant issued by King James III (1452 - 88) to Sir David Guthrie (1435 - 1500), who was Lord Treasurer and Lord Justice-General of Scotland, the castle originally consisted of a square keep of three storeys and a garret, with walls 2.5-m (8-foot) thick.
A modern house was built adjacent around 1760. In 1848, this was linked to the old tower via a panelled Great Hall by the architect David Bryce (1803-76), who extended the conjoined buildings to form a pleasing country house. The old keep retains much of its original form, although the entrance directly into the first floor, in the middle of the south front, was removed and the cap-house and fortified parapet are Victorian recreations by Bryce.
By road: Guthrie Castle is located in the village centre, off the A932, and is 18 miles north-east of Dundee, on the A90-A932.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is Arbroath, about 15 minutes from the Castle
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