Bridge Over Tweed, Walkerburn

Heritage listing

Category C Date Added 10/03/2003 Local Authority Scottish Borders Planning Authority Scottish Borders Parish Innerleithen NGR NT 36053 36951 Coordinates 336053, 636951 — Orr, Watt & Co Ltd, 1914 for Peeblesshire County Council. 4-span bridge of painted steel truss construction with heavy steel rivets on ashlar piers and cutwaters; droved ashlar wing walls. E AND W ELEVATIONS: to far left and right, pair of curved wing walls with segmental coping and terminating in slightly higher squared piers with chamfered caps (walls also support outer spans of bridge). Main bridge comprising 4 main spans with bowed trusses: each span subdivided into 12 sections, the outer 4 sections each having one diagonal riveted support running toward the centre, the central 4 sections each having 2 riveted supports forming a diagonal cross for strength; 5 triangular supports projecting from inner uprights of each span providing extra strength. Outer spans supported on pair of circular masonry piers; centre of bridge supported by rectangular masonry pier resting on diamond cutwater. Manufacturer's shield shaped plaques sited at various points of the bridge reading ORR, WATT & CO Ltd. 1914. MOTHERWELL. — The bridge was paid for by Peeblesshire County Council and was constructed to replace the smaller footbridge linking the railway station (to the south of the Tweed) with the main village to the north of the Tweed. This new bridge was something of a revolution in Walkerburn as it carried not only foot passengers but also vehicles. This meant a journey with a horse and cart or motor vehicle did not have to go via Innerleithen (where there was a bridge) or over the Bold Ford, which was sometimes impassable due to flooding of the Tweed. The building of the village had never really passed to the south

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.