South Ayrshire Image 
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South Ayrshire Image March 13, 2012
1. The Sandgate from the New Bridge.
Date: June 2009
©M.Bailey
2. The Assembly Rooms and The Sandgate from the Malt Cross.
Date: April 2010
©M.Bailey
In the late 18th century the volume of traffic over the Auld Brig had increased to such an extent that the Burgh had to consider the construction of a new river crossing.
The new Bridge, based on an adaptation of a Robert Adam design, linked the Sandgate with the Main Street of the Burgh of Newton on Ayr. The Bridge contractor was Alex Stevens. The bridge and the two bow fronted buildings to the left were constructed around 1787. The original glazing remains in the second floor windows of these house and there may have been iron balconies on the exterior.
It is believed that one of these properties to the left of New Bridge Street was occupied by Mrs Jamieson, a leading exponent of Ayrshire White Work' in the early 19th century. The properties in New Bridge Street were restored ca 1980. Further restoration work is now required and should be completed by 2014.
The New Bridge suffered severe damage in 1877 and had to be dismantled. Some of the stone details were preserved and may be seen within walls at Ayr Pavilion and at the gates of Corsehill Park.
The bridge is a good viewpoint for the bridges upriver. These are the Auld Brig, Turner's Footbridge, The stone railway bridge with the cage walk and beyond, the modern Victoria Bridge carrying the inner ring road. To the west there is a view of the harbour, the remnants of the old rail bridge and the northern tip of Arran may be discerned beyond the mouth of the river. A fine view of the Firth of Clyde was obscured when the high flats were constructed on the site of the old fish quays.