South Bridge Act 1785

The South Bridge Act 1785 (25 Geo. 3. c. 28) was a public act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom concerning infrastructure in the city of Edinburgh. Specifically, for the construction of what would become the South Bridge, for rebuilding or improving the University of Edinburgh, for enlarging the public markets, for lighting the said city, for providing an additional supply of water, for extending the royalty of the said city for levying an additional sum of money for statute labour in the middle district of the county of Edinburgh, to complete the Mound and to erect a bridge between the road to Leith and Calton Hill across Calton Street.

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act for opening an easy and commodious Communication from the High Street of Edinburgh, to the Country Southward; and also from the Lawn Market to the New extended Royalty on the North, and for enabling Trustees to purchase Lands, Houses, and Areas for that Purpose; for widening and enlarging the Streets of the said City, and certain Avenues leading to the same; for rebuilding or improving the University.
Citation	25 Geo. 3. c. 28
Introduced by	Henry Dundas
Dates
Royal assent	1785
Commencement	1785
Text of statute as originally enacted

South Bridge Scheme

The South Bridge as built, seen from the Cowgate.

The first specific proposal for a South Bridge was produced on 6 September 1775 with the publication of a pamphlet setting out heads of a Bill. The promoters were a Committee of Heritors of the Shire of Edinburgh, including Henry Dundas who acted as Chairman, and the Duke of Buccleuch.

In 1784 the scheme for the South Bridge was revived and with it the hopes of rebuilding the College on the existing site. Andrew Dalzell wrote to a friend in December: "It is now resolved to build a bridge across the Cowgate, passing between the College and the Infirmary. It is thought that when the posteriors of the College are exposed, people will be shamed into building a new College." This startling prospect gave rise to another pamphlet, published in early 1785 by James Gregory, Professor of the Theory of Medicine, in the form of "A letter to the Right Honourable Henry Dundas on the Proposed Improvements in the City of Edinburgh."

Trustees for the University of Edinburgh and the South Bridge Act 1785

• James Hunter Blair; Lord Provost of Edinburgh
• The Rt Hon Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
• The Rt Hon Ilay Campbell; Lord Advocate of Scotland
• Sir William Forbes; Baronet of Pitsligo
• Robert Macqueen of Braxfield esq., Senator of the College of Justice
• Archibald McDowal esq.; Merchant and Dean of the Guild of Edinburgh
• John Grieve esq.; Merchant in Edinburgh
• Mr. William Jamieson; Mason and Convener of the Trades of Edinburgh
• John Davidson esq.; Writer to the Signet
• Niel McViccar esq.; Merchant in Edinburgh
• James Brown esq.; Architect