An historic bridge which once carried the Stirling to Alloa over the River Deveron, Tullibody Old Bridge lies next to the present bridge. It dates from around 1535 but fell from use in 1915. Located to the west of the town, the Old Bridge was built on the instructions Robert Spittal of Stirling, King James IV's tailor and a noted philanthropist. It comprises five arches; two spanning the river and three more to permit the passage of flood-water. It is 135m (442 feet) in length and 6m (20 feet) wide.
The eastern arch was demolished by William Kirkaldy of Grange in 1560 to prevent a French army crossing as they retreated from Fife while in Scotland to support Mary of Guise. The bridge was soon restored. In 1697, John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar (1675 - 1732), commissioned the Bauchops of Alloa to undertake significant improvements and it was repaired regularly over the centuries. In 1915, the Old Bridge was bypassed by a new steel-framed bridge (known as Downie's Bridge) which was used until it was found to be close to structural failure and a new bridge opened in 1999. Downie's Bridge was demolished in 2003.
Despite being neglected for many years, the Tullibody Old Bridge was A-listed in 1950 and subject to extensive repairs in 1961, although inappropriate cement-mortar was used and further repairs were required in the 21st C. The Old Bridge is now used by pedestrians and forms part of the local cycle network.
