Union Chain Bridge, which was opened in 1820, set for £6.7m makeover

Hull firm C Spencer has won a £6.7m scheme to refurbish a grade I-listed bridge linking England and Scotland over the river Tweed.

The Union Chain Bridge spans the Tweed between Horncliffe in Northumberland and Fishwick across the border in Berwickshire.

union chain bridge

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The bridge opened in 1820

The work for Northumberland county council is being bankrolled by local authority money from both sides of the border as well as a £3.1m grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

When it opened in 1820, it was the longest wrought iron suspension bridge in the world with a span of 137m and the first vehicular bridge of its type in the UK.

It is the oldest suspension bridge in the world still carrying road traffic.

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