Ancient bridge reopens after £3.54m restoration

THE Berwick Old Bridge has reopened to traffic after a major £3.54m restoration scheme took place.

- OWEN YOUNGER

Managed and funded by Northumberland County Council, the initiative aims to protect the Grade I structure for years to come.

The work on the bridge, which has spanned the River Tweed for over 400 years, started in 2020 just as the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Since then, engineers have been working on the restoration, pausing only for the bridge's 400th anniversary celebrations last August.

The bridge was originally built out of red sandstone by James Burrell, between 1611 and 1634, replacing an existing wooden bridge. It was almost complete in 1621, but severe flooding caused damage which put back its completion by several years.