Bridgend Perthshire Scotland

Perth Bridge. Bridgend, Perthshire, Scotland. Bridgend in 1846. Bridgend, a burgh of barony, in the parish of Kinnoull, county of Perth; containing 1737 inhabitants. This village, which forms a suburb to the city of Perth, derives its name from the erection of a bridge over the Tay, connecting the parishes of Perth and Kinnoull, between which, all communication since the destruction of the old bridge in 1621, had been by a ferry, till the completion of the present structure, in 1771. Prior to this date, the village consisted only of a few cottages, inhabited by the boatmen employed on the ferry; but, from the greater facility of intercourse with Perth, it has rapidly increased in extent and importance, and at present contains nearly three-fifths of the population of the parish. The streets are regularly formed, and lighted with gas; the houses are substantially built, and along the banks of the river, and on the rising ground, are numerous elegant villas, surrounded with scenery richly diversified. The village was erected into a burgh of barony, in favour of the Earl of Kinnoull, by charter, which also conferred the privileges of a weekly market and several annual fairs, now fallen into disuse.