The Union Chain Bridge is an historic engineering marvel spanning the famous River Tweed. 

Located in the borderlands between Coldstream and Berwick-upon-Tweed, this iconic structure connects England with Scotland, and remains an important local landmark. 

It was originally designed for horse-drawn vehicles, facilitating trade and travel between the two nations during a period of rapid industrialisation. Today it can accept cars, but only one at a time.

But before it was built, the original crossing was a perilous ford, slightly downstream from where the bridge now stands. When the river was high there could be loss of cargo and even of life, and until the completion of the Union Bridge no other bridge crossed the Tweed between Berwick and Coldstream.

Constructed between 1819 and 1820, the Union Chain Bridge holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest operational suspension bridge still carrying road traffic. Designed by Captain Samuel Brown, a visionary engineer, the bridge was a revolutionary feat of engineering for its time. Stretching 137 metres (449 feet) across the river, it was a pioneering example of the suspension bridge design, utilising wrought iron chains to support the deck, a technique that would later inspire larger and more ambitious bridge projects around the globe.

A 30 month restoration of the bridge was completed in April 2023. This involved inspecting, restoring or replacing every piece of the bridge to enable its continued use for years to come.

It is certainly a fascinating structure, and well worth a visit. We crossed the bridge back into Scotland after a trip to Berwick upon Tweed. On the English side it can be accessed heading west on the A698 near Berwick, a short distance from the roundabout on the A1. A turning to the bridge is signposted. On the Scottish side the bridge can be accessed off the B6461 near Fishwick.