Historic bridges · Central Scotland
Union Chain Bridge
Also known as: Droichead Union
In or near Norham.
Union Chain Bridge is a historic bridge in the United Kingdom.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 15 min–30 min
- Nearest railway station
- Berwick-upon-Tweed · 6.5 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit the Union Chain Bridge, the nearest railway station is Berwick-upon-Tweed, located 6.5 km away. Entry to the bridge is free.
About
Union Chain Bridge is a named historic bridge in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1820. Coordinates: 55.7526°, -2.1069°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
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 earlier, 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. The bridge is also a Grade I listed building in England and an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Official information
The Union Chain Bridge is the world's oldest vehicular suspension bridge, located on the River Tweed. It serves as a historical and engineering landmark, offering beautiful riverside walks and forming part of the new Tweed Trail.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Tweed Catchment Rivers - England: Lower Tweed and Whiteadder SSSI
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
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 earlier, 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. 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.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
]] Before the opening of the Union Bridge, crossing the river at this point involved an 11 mi round trip via Berwick downstream or a 20 mi trip via Coldstream upstream. (Ladykirk and Norham Bridge did not open until 1888.) The Tweed was forded in the vicinity of the bridge site, but the route was impassable during periods of high water. The Berwick and North Durham Turnpike Trust took on responsibility for improving matters by issuing a specification for a bridge.
Architecture
]] The bridge was designed by a Royal Navy officer, Captain Samuel Brown. Brown joined the Navy in 1795, and seeing the need for an improvement on the hemp ropes used, which frequently failed with resulting loss to shipping, he employed blacksmiths to create experimental wrought iron chains. In around 1817, Brown proposed a 1000 ft span bridge over the River Mersey at Runcorn, but this bridge was not built. The bridge proposal received consent in July 1819, with the authority of the Berwick and Durham Roads and Tweed Bridges Act 1802 (42 Geo. 3. c. cxvii), and construction began on 2 August 1819. The bridge, which has its western end in Scotland and its eastern end in England, was built…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 55.7526, -2.1069
- District
- Northumberland
- Parish
- Horncliffe
- Postcode
- TD15 2XT
- Parliamentary constituency
- North Northumberland
- Established
- 1820
- Nearest railway station
- Berwick-upon-Tweed — 6.5 km
- Opening
- {{start date and age|1820|07|26|df=y}}
- Official site
- www.unionbridgefriends.com
Sources
- osm: w23045697 (ODbL)
- wikipedia: Union Chain Bridge (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Union Chain Bridge between England and Scotland, 2019.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Union Chain Bridge?
- Union Chain Bridge is in central Scotland, United Kingdom (postcode TD15 2XT), in the parish of Horncliffe.
- What is Union Chain Bridge?
- Union Chain Bridge is a historic bridge in the United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Union Chain Bridge?
- The nearest railway station is Berwick-upon-Tweed, about 6.5 km away. Drivers can use postcode TD15 2XT.
- When was Union Chain Bridge built?
- Built or established in 1820.
- Who owns Union Chain Bridge?
- Union Chain Bridge is owned by | maint =.
- Is Union Chain Bridge a listed building?
- Union Chain Bridge is officially recognised as category A listed building listed.
- Is Union Chain Bridge a protected site?
- Yes — Union Chain Bridge is part of the Tweed Catchment Rivers - England: Lower Tweed and Whiteadder SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- Is Union Chain Bridge free to visit?
- Yes, Union Chain Bridge is free to enter.