Basic Biographical Details
| Name: | Messrs Harpers & Co (later Harpers Ltd) |
| Designation: | |
| Born: | c. 1865 |
| Died: | |
| Bio Notes: | The Harpers were involved in the construction of light wire suspension bridges from about 1865 until 1924. Initially they designed and built and latterly designed. John Harper left his parents’ farm near Turriff in Aberdeenshire around the age of 9 and found employment as a market gardener before moving down to Edinburgh with his brother Hugh, where they became wire fencers. This continued in Glasgow and in 1856 they returned to Aberdeen to set up their own business as fencers and gate manufacturers. Before long they had established a foundry. In 1863, aged 30, John Harper registered a patent ‘device for straining wire’, which was crucial to the development of bridge building. Estates in the north east of Scotland that were fenced by Harper & Co include the Glenfiddich and Glentannar Estates. In the latter Harpers gates and fences are still very much in evidence. Abroad the most notable contract was for the Nagpour extension (about 200miles long) of the Great Indian & Peninsular Railway “and this enormous piece of work not only brought him much profit but much credit” The earliest recorded bridges were in 1871, over the Aberdeenshire Dee near Aboyne, the Water of Tannar neaby and the Cheshire Dee at Socklach. The earliest bridge design was probably the same as that still in use at Birkhall, resembling so strongly its fencing antecedent. The 1871 bridges bore the Harpers Patent cable tensioners that had been developed from the fence stainer - as did others until the end of the century. John Harper continued with his bridge interest along with his son John. until about 1887. Then his second son Louis developed the business after that date. |
Employment and Training
Employees or Pupils
| The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | |||||
| Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | |
 | Louis Harper | Engineer | |||
Buildings and Designs
| This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | |||||||
| Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | |
| 1881 | Cromdale Suspension Bridge | Cromdale | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | ||
| c. 1885 | Birkhall, rope bridge | Glemuick | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | ||
References
Bibliographic References
| The following books contain references to this : | ||||||
| Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | |
| www.harperbridges.com | www.harperbridges.com [accessed April 2007] | ||||