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Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
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Basic Site Details
Name
Union Suspension Bridge
Town, District or Village
Paxton
Parish
Hutton
City or County
Berwickshire
Status
Country
Scotland
Grid Ref
Grid Ref N
Grid Ref E
Notes
Built by Captian S Brown as a tension bridge.
Captain Samuel Brown, Royal Navy, with advice from John Rennie, 1819-20; improved and strengthened by J A Bean for Tweed Bridge Trustees, 1902-3. Timber carriageway spanning River Tweed suspended from 3 pairs of swept, wrought iron chains of elongated eye bar links. Wrought iron bolt brackets link iron rod suspenders; upper wire cables. Iron railings threaded around suspenders enclosing sides. Channelled pink sandstone, tapering rectangular-plan pylon to W (Scottish) side with keystoned, round-arched opening at centre; mutuled cornice; tall parapet with carved roses and thistles surmounting central block inscribed \'VIS UNITA FORTIOR 1820\' to E. Channelled pink sandstone, tapering pylon set into rock face to E (English) side with blocked, pilastered doorway centred at ground framing memorial plaque; mutuled cornice; tall parapet with carved roses and thistles surmounting central block also inscribed \'VIS UNITA FORTIOR 1820\'. Rectangular-plan, pink sandstone piers flanking carriageway to W with rubble-coped rubble walls linking pylon to E. Pyramidal-capped, square-plan, pink sandstone piers flanking carriageway to W of E pylon; rubble-coped rubble walls to E.
Thomson\'s Map, 1821 (Evident - Marked \'Union Bridge\'). Sharp, Greenwood & Fowler\'s Map, 1826 (Evident - Marked \'Chain Bridge\'). Ordnance Survey (1857) 25 Inch to the Mile: Ordnance Survey, London. New Statistical Account of Scotland (Completed 1834, Published 1845) pp161-162. Groome F. H. (1883) Ordnance Gazetteer, p281. Lady Furness (1971) \'Netherbyres\' Proceedings Of The Berwickshire Naturalists\' Club, Vol XXXIX, pp14-15. Hume J.R. (1976) The Industrial Archaeology Of Scotland, Vol 1 pp82-83. `Captain Sir Samuel Brown Of Netherbyres¿ (1986) Proceedings Of The Berwickshire Naturalists\' Club, Vol XLIII, pp73-79. NMRS Photographic Records. Cruft K, Dunbar J, Fawcett R (2006) The Buildings Of Scotland ¿ Borders. Yale University Press: London, p739
Building Type Classification
The building is classified under the following categories:
Class classic
Classification
Original Classification
Notes
Bridge
Not Known
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Events
The following date-based events are associated with this building:
event classic
Event Type
From
To
Notes
1819
1820
Opened
1820
According to HS
Construction
1834
According to N.S.A
Alterations and additions
1902
1903
Strengthening of bridge
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People
Design and Construction
The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
design classic
Person
Partnership Group
Role
From
To
Notes
John Rennie
B
Engineer
1819
1820
Gave advice on bridge
(Captain Sir) Samuel Brown
1820c
1834
J A Bean
C
Engineer
1902
1903
Strengthening of bridge
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Related Buildings, Structures and Designs
References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this building:
bio ref classic
Author
Year
Title
Part
Publisher
Notes
Cruft, Kitty, Dunbar, John and Fawcett, Richard
2006
Borders (The Buildings of Scotland)
New Haven and London: Yale University Press
p739
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Archive References
The following archives hold material relating to this building:
arc ref classic
Source
Name
Cat Number
Item Name
Notes
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS
NMRS Architects Index
Historic Environment Scotland
Listed Buildings Register
13645
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