Kelso Bridge, Road bridge in Kelso, Scotland
Kelso Bridge is a stone arch crossing over the River Tweed, consisting of five curved spans with distinctive twin columns that create pedestrian refuges along its length. The structure spans roughly 24 feet (7 meters) in width and features generous pavements on both sides to accommodate foot traffic.
John Rennie designed this bridge between 1800 and 1803 to replace an earlier structure that collapsed during a severe storm in 1797. Its construction marks an important shift in Scottish bridge engineering at the turn of the 19th century.
The bridge represents early 19th-century Scottish engineering and includes decorative elements such as bullnosed cutwaters and ornamental lamp columns at its terminations.
The bridge carries the A699 road across the river and can be crossed on foot or by car, with wide pavements remaining safe even during road traffic. Best times for a walk are quieter morning or evening hours when there is less traffic flowing.
Two cast-iron lamps at the western end originally came from London's Waterloo Bridge and were installed here following that bridge's demolition in 1936. These lights connect the histories of two major crossings and represent a rare example of reused Victorian engineering components.
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