Tweed Bridge

The dolphin street lamps date from the widening between 1897 and 1900

The Tweed Bridge is medieval in origin, although the exact date of its construction is unknown.[1] 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.[2][1][3] A mason known as John of Peebles may have worked on the bridge at that time.[1] A plaque on the bridge states that it was originally a wooden bridge clad in stone.[4]

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.[2] 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.[1]

The bridge was widened from 8 feet (2.4 m) to 21 feet (6.4 m) in 1834 by adding stonework to both sides.[5][6] This work was done by John and Thomas Smith of Darnick, and the cost of around GB£1,000 was funded by public subscription.[5] Between 1897 and 1900, it was widened again to 40 feet (12 m) by adding to the downstream side.[5] This work, which cost about GB£8,000, was done by McTaggart, Cowan and Barker, and funded by the Town Council.[5]

On the south side of the bridge the remains of Second World War defences were evident until the road was resurfaced.[7]

The bridge was listed as a category A listed building in 1971.[5] Plans are being considered for an additional bridge over the Tweed in the town.[8][9]

The effect of adding to the bridge can be seen from below

The five spans vary in length from 38 feet (12 m) to 42 feet (13 m).[1] The oldest part of the bridge uses arches which are almost circular, but the more modern parts use flatter segmental arches.[1] On the upstream side the piers have triangular ashlar cutwaters, and rounded profiles on the downstream side.[2][5] At the north end of the bridge is an arched ramp to the east that leads to Tweed Green.[5][10]

The Tweed Bridge is the only road crossing of the Tweed within Peebles.[2] It carries the B7062 public road, which is two lanes wide at this point.[10] Near to the Tweed Bridge is the Cuddy Bridge, a single arch bridge over the Eddleston Water, a tributary of the Tweed.[11]