Before the opening of the road bridge at Largo Harbour in 1914, a wooden footbridge provided passage across the Keil Burn. The footbridge probably had to be repaired or replaced multiple times over the decades. The image above shows the bridge around the turn of the century, while the one below shows a different structure around 1870.
On 16 June 1894, the Dundee Courier reported on a St Andrews District Committee meeting where a special sub-committee had been appointed to inspect the wooden bridge across the harbour. They found that the bridge was "in a dangerous condition" and recommended that the committee contribute to costs of repair, despite this not being a highway. After some negotiation it was agreed that £15 would be contributed. The Dundee Advertiser covered this story on the same day, adding that the bridge was "in a very bad and insufficient condition" and raising fears of liability in the event of an accident.
Back in 1841 a fatal accident had occurred on the bridge, as reported in the Fife Herald of 25 February. A Lundin Mill Man, "the sole support of a widowed mother", fell from the wooden structure when the tide was in and was drowned. The paper stated that:
"He had been spending the night, it is said, with some friends, and was accompanied to the bridge by a female companion on his way homeward; but she had just bid him goodnight, and had turned to retrace her steps, when he fell. She heard him fall into the water, and gave an alarm, but six hours elapsed before his body could be found."
No doubt the wood became slippery in wet conditions and if it was dark, rainy or windy, particular care would be required. Another accident was reported in 1858. The local cooper had been returning to his lodgings in Drumochie when "in trying to take the bridge, he fell into the harbour". In this instance the tide was out and the man "managed to get home without assistance" after "cutting his head and otherwise bruising himself very much". He was said to be "going on favourably".
On 16 June 1894, the Dundee Courier reported on a St Andrews District Committee meeting where a special sub-committee had been appointed to inspect the wooden bridge across the harbour. They found that the bridge was "in a dangerous condition" and recommended that the committee contribute to costs of repair, despite this not being a highway. After some negotiation it was agreed that £15 would be contributed. The Dundee Advertiser covered this story on the same day, adding that the bridge was "in a very bad and insufficient condition" and raising fears of liability in the event of an accident.
Back in 1841 a fatal accident had occurred on the bridge, as reported in the Fife Herald of 25 February. A Lundin Mill Man, "the sole support of a widowed mother", fell from the wooden structure when the tide was in and was drowned. The paper stated that:
"He had been spending the night, it is said, with some friends, and was accompanied to the bridge by a female companion on his way homeward; but she had just bid him goodnight, and had turned to retrace her steps, when he fell. She heard him fall into the water, and gave an alarm, but six hours elapsed before his body could be found."
No doubt the wood became slippery in wet conditions and if it was dark, rainy or windy, particular care would be required. Another accident was reported in 1858. The local cooper had been returning to his lodgings in Drumochie when "in trying to take the bridge, he fell into the harbour". In this instance the tide was out and the man "managed to get home without assistance" after "cutting his head and otherwise bruising himself very much". He was said to be "going on favourably".
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