Melrose, Gattonside, Suspension Footbridge View from SE showing ENE front

Description Melrose, Gattonside, Suspension Footbridge View from SE showing ENE front

Date 8/8/1976

Collection Papers of Professor John R Hume, economic and industrial historian, Glasgow, Scotland

Catalogue Number SC 494385

Category On-line Digital Images

Scope and Content Gattonside Suspension bridge, Melrose, Roxburghshire This is one of the earliest surviving suspension bridges in Scotland, and was built by Redpath, Brown & Co. It had paired round-section suspension chain links and a wooden deck, both early features. It spans the river Tweed. This view shows the bridge from the south east. Note the height of the Gothic pylons, necessitated by the length of the span, and the very light railings, to reduce the load on the suspension cables. This bridge was reconditioned in the early 1990s with substantial alteration to its character. A stiffened steel-framed deck with straight sides was installed, and additional wire-rope suspension cables introduced; the original chains were retained. It was designed and supplied by Redpath, Brown & Co of Edinburgh. Construction was carried out by Smith's of Darnwick, a local firm, for the sum of £600 in 1825. On opening on 26th October 1826, it was a toll bridge: 1/2 pence per crossing, or 3 pence for a week's pass. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

External Reference H76/192/5

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/494385

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap