Union Chain Bridge
The Union Chain Bridge or Union Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the River Tweed between Horncliffe, Northumberland, England and Fishwick, Berwickshire, Scotland. It is four miles (6.4 km) upstream of Berwick-upon-Tweed. When it opened in 1820 it was the longest wrought iron suspension bridge in the world with a span of 449 feet (137 m), and the first vehicular bridge of its type in the United Kingdom. Although work started on the Menai Suspension Bridge first, the Union Bridge was completed first. The suspension bridge, which is a Category A listed building in Scotland, is now the oldest to be still carrying road traffic.
Union Bridge | |
|---|---|
The bridge from the north on the Scottish bank | |
| Coordinates | 55.7525°N 2.107°W |
| Crosses | River Tweed |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Wrought iron (original) sandstone ashlar steel (modern upgrade) |
| No. of spans | 1 |
| Design life | 1871: bridge deck replaced 1902: additional cables added 1974: bridge refurbished 2020:complete restoration |
| History | |
| Designer | Captain Samuel Brown |
| Construction start | 1819 |
| Opened | 26 July 1820 |
| Location | |
The bridge is also a Grade I listed building in England and an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. It lies on Sustrans Route 1 and the Pennine Cycleway. Its chains are represented on the Flag of Berwickshire.