Union Bridge | |
|---|---|
 The bridge from the north on the Scottish bank | |
| Coordinates | 55°45′09″N 2°06′25″W / 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 | |
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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.[1] 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 earlier, the Union Bridge was completed first. The suspension bridge, which is a Category A listed building in Scotland,[2] is now the oldest to be still carrying road traffic.
The bridge is also a Grade I listed building in England[3] and an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.[4] It lies on Sustrans Route 1 and the Pennine Cycleway. Its chains are represented on the Flag of Berwickshire.
- ^ "The Union Chain Bridge". Museums Northumberland. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Union Suspension Bridge (that part in Scotland) (Category A Listed Building) (LB13645)". Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ Historic England. "Union Suspension Bridge (that part in England) (1042214)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- ^ Johnson, Phil (25 July 2020). "Union Chain Bridge gets international badge of honour to mark bicentenary". The Scotsman. Retrieved 20 August 2022.