About Tweed Bridge
The Tweed Bridge is a stone-built road bridge of five spans over the River Tweed in Peebles, in the Scottish Borders. HistoryThe Tweed Bridge is medieval in origin, although the exact date of its construction is unknown. Records show that a stone bridge has been maintained at the site since the middle of the 15th century, and work done in 1465 may have been the construction of a new bridge or substantial rebuilding or maintenance of an existing one. A mason known as John of Peebles may have worked on the bridge at that time. A plaque on the bridge states that it was originally a wooden bridge clad in stone. It was reconstructed in 1663 using stone from St Andrew's Church which had been destroyed in 1548 by an English army as part of the Rough Wooing. John Hisplop added three additional arches to the south end of the bridge in 1799, but these were removed when the Peebles Railway was built. The bridge was widened from to in 1834 by adding stonework to both sides. This work was done by John and Thomas Smith of Darnick, and the cost of around was funded by public subscription. Between 1897 and 1900, it was widened again to by adding to the downstream side. This work, which cost about, was done by McTaggart, Cowan and Barker, and funded by the Town Council. On the south side of the bridge the remains of Second World War defences were evident until the road was resurfaced.
Tweed Bridge Description
The Tweed Bridge is a stone-built road bridge of five spans over the River Tweed in Peebles, in the Scottish Borders. HistoryThe Tweed Bridge is medieval in origin, although the exact date of its construction is unknown. Records show that a stone bridge has been maintained at the site since the middle of the 15th century, and work done in 1465 may have been the construction of a new bridge or substantial rebuilding or maintenance of an existing one. A mason known as John of Peebles may have worked on the bridge at that time. A plaque on the bridge states that it was originally a wooden bridge clad in stone. It was reconstructed in 1663 using stone from St Andrew's Church which had been destroyed in 1548 by an English army as part of the Rough Wooing. John Hisplop added three additional arches to the south end of the bridge in 1799, but these were removed when the Peebles Railway was built. The bridge was widened from to in 1834 by adding stonework to both sides. This work was done by John and Thomas Smith of Darnick, and the cost of around was funded by public subscription. Between 1897 and 1900, it was widened again to by adding to the downstream side. This work, which cost about, was done by McTaggart, Cowan and Barker, and funded by the Town Council. On the south side of the bridge the remains of Second World War defences were evident until the road was resurfaced.