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Ancient Bridge in Coldstream. By Rev. Petee Meaens. 



In cutting a new saw-pit in a garden tlie property of Mr 

 James Briggs, near to Duke Street, the arch of an old 

 bridge was discovered, which there is good reason to believe 

 had been erected in connection with the old abbey near to 

 which it stands. Workmen were employed to dig to the 

 bottom of the walls supporting the arch ; and the entire arch, 

 and all connected with it were thus brought to light. This 

 bridge is on a direct line from the abbey to the ford across the 

 Leet. There are no traditions of a bridge existing at this 

 spot in former times ; but old people remember that the 

 ground here was once hollow, and that it was gradually 

 levelled by earth brought from other parts. The top of the 

 arch is 4^ feet below the present surface. The ground was 

 formerly marshy, a proof of which we have in Duke Street 

 sometimes now receiving its former name of Duke Dub — a 

 place for ducks — a name by which it was called in title deeds 

 a century ago. The street is now thoroughly drained and all 

 traces of a marsh have disappeared. Within the last twenty 

 years water ran in the direction of this street ; but the 

 stream is now diverted above the town on the north side, and 

 joins the Leet at a point further up the river. 



When this arch was used as a bridge, it would answer well 

 for foot passengers or beasts of burden ; but after allowing 

 for parapets, it is too narrow for a vehicle, being altogether 

 only 5 feet 9 inches in width. The road which crosses it, as 

 traced on each side, consists of a thin crust of cinders and 

 gravel with some broken stones and fragments of pottery. 

 The arch is 2 1 feet high ; the side walls are 5 feet apart and 

 5 feet in height ; and the arch has a span of 6 feet, as it ex- 

 tends 6 inches over each wall. 



In digging for the foundations of the walls, several bones 

 were found larger than those of man. 



Coldstream Abbey was founded about the year 1150, by 

 Gospatrick, the fourth Earl of Dunbar, and his pious Countess 

 Derder. The original charter is as follows : — 



CHARTER OF THE FGUNDATIOlSr OE THE PEIOEY OE COLDSTREAM 

 BY EARL GOSPATRICK. 



*'Earl Gospatrick to all honourable men, barons and servants, 

 clergy and laity, either present or future, health. Be it known 

 that we granted and conceded to God and the Sisters of Witchon, 



