The Minister's Bridge
The true story behind the Rosehall bridge’s byname
By Anna MacRae MacDonald
The Minister’s Bridge is a beautiful single-track stone bridge over a deep, rocky ravine at Allt Mhor ('big burn') in a remote area between the Sutherland villages of Rosehall and Lairg. The source of the Allt Mhor lies between Doir a Chátha ('the grove of the battle') and Srón nan Iarnachan ('the hill of the iron nose'). It runs in a south-westerly direction through Raven’s Rock forest walk, and joins the Kyle of Sutherland near Invernauld.
The story goes that the bridge got its name when a minister, who was holidaying in the area, had fallen from the bridge following a bicycle accident and tragically died. Having cycled over this bridge myself numerous times, I always thought about that minister – who was he, where did he come from, and how long ago did the accident actually happen?
Last week I found a clue in a most unexpected source – The Greenock Telegraph & Clyde Shipping Gazette, dated Sept 1st 1900. “The Rev. Edward Buchelor Russel [sic], a guest of Mr Gilmour of Rosehall and Glencassely [sic], was last night killed by a cycle accident at Walkerdale Bridge, about a mile from Rosehall House. The reverend gentleman was 40 years of age. Mr Russel was vicar of Leyton, Essex”. The mention of Walkerdale Bridge, some 500 yards from the Minister’s Bridge appears to have been a wee mistake by the newspaper. The death certificate of the Reverend Edward Bachelor Russell notes the scene of the accident as the “Big Bridge” which was indeed the original name for the Minister’s Bridge. A little more research revealed that the incident occurred at approximately 5.30pm on the 30th August 1900. He had been out riding in the area and “in descending a steep hill lost control of his machine”. His bicycle struck the parapet of the bridge and he was propelled into the deep gorge being killed instantly.
Reverend Russell left a widow (they were just two week’s from the 3rd Wedding Anniversary when he died). Following their marriage in 1897, they had set sail for India where he would become a Missionary. They returned home to England prior to the birth of their first son in 1898. Their voyage home was not plain sailing however, when their ship ran aground on an island in the Red Sea. They reportedly “arrived in London ten days later with the clothes they stood up in plus three stuffed crocodiles and a stuffed iguana”. Their second son was born in March 1900. The Reverend Russell’s body was conveyed for burial to St John the Baptist Cemetery in Surrey.
Anna MacRae MacDonald Genealogy services based in the Scottish Highlands: historical research – family and local; production of family tree charts and genealogical reports; certificate lookups and much more. Get in touch to discuss your requirements by email or find us on Facebook.
