{{Short description|Bridge in the Scottish Borders, Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Use British English|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox bridge | name = Kalemouth Suspension Bridge | native_name = | image = Old bridge at Kalemouth - geograph.org.uk - 86233.jpg | alt = | caption = | coordinates = | os_grid_reference = | carries = | crosses = River Teviot | locale = | other_name = | named_for = | owner = | maint = | website = | preceded = | followed = | design = | material = Wrought iron | length = | width = {{Convert|16|ft}} | height = | mainspan = {{Convert|180|ft}} | number_spans = | designer = Captain Samuel Brown | built = | begin = | complete = | cost = | opened = | inaugurated = | rebuilt = | collapsed = | destroyed = | closed = | demolished = | replaces = | replaced_by = | extra = {{Infobox designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = Category A Listed Building | designation1_offname = Kalemouth Suspension Bridge, Over River Teviot | designation1_date = 18 August 1977 | designation1_number = {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB3849|short=yes}} }} }}
The '''Kalemouth Suspension Bridge''' is a suspension bridge at Kalemouth in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, near the B6401. It crosses the River Teviot just above its confluence with the Kale Water, near Eckford.
==History== It was designed by Captain Samuel Brown (1776-1852), an officer of the Royal Navy, and built by William Mather, a contractor of Kalemouth, some time between 1820 and 1830.<ref name=sp/> Alexander Jeffrey wrote in 1838 "there is a chain bridge erected over the Tweed (sic) by the Late Mr Ormiston of that Ilk, at his own expense, for his private use: but it has since been opened to the public for a trifling fee - a boon which cannot easily be forgot or misused."<ref name=hs/><ref name=eck/> In 1834, the tolls were ½d. for a foot passenger, 3d. for a horse or cart, 6d. for a gig, and 1s. for a chaise.<ref name=p232/> Tolls are thought to have been paid at Kalemouth Cottage, now enlarged and a private home.<ref name=sp/><ref name=eck>{{cite web |url=http://eckford.org.uk/history/kalemouth_bridge |title=Kalemouth Bridge |publisher=eckford.org.uk |accessdate=9 September 2014}}</ref> Another source give the name of the person who paid for the bridge as William Mein of Ormiston.<ref name=ok>{{Cite web|url=http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB3849|title=KALEMOUTH SUSPENSION BRIDGE, OVER RIVER TEVIOT (LB3849)|website=portal.historicenvironment.scot|access-date=2020-03-30}}</ref>
It is protected as a Category A listed building.<ref name=hs>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB3849|desc=Kalemouth Suspension Bridge, over River Teviot|cat=A|access-date=28 March 2019}}</ref> and is one of the earliest surviving carriage suspension bridges.
The bridge was closed to motor vehicles in August 2020 due to significant defects in its timber deck,<ref name=bbc>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-67566267 |title=End of the road for cars on Kalemouth Suspension Bridge |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=8 February 2024}}</ref> with restoration of its use as a vehicle crossing considered unlikely.<ref name=southern>{{cite web |url=https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/people/historic-river-crossing-restoration-bid-proving-a-bridge-too-far-3936800 |title=Historic river crossing restoration bid proving a bridge too far |publisher=Southern Reporter |accessdate=8 February 2024}}</ref> In March 2026, Scottish Borders Council was awarded £250,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to refurbish the bridge and allow its continued use by pedestrians and cyclist, along with new interpretation panels.<ref>{{cite news |title=£250k restoration of ‘magnificent’ but decaying Borders bridge |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25938754.250k-restoration-magnificent-decaying-borders-bridge/ |access-date=17 March 2026 |work=The Herald |date=16 March 2026 |location=Glasgow |page=11 |language=en}}</ref>
==Design== It crosses the River Teviot just above its confluence with the Kale Water, near Eckford.<ref name=sps>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst11350.html |work=Gazetteer for Scotland |title=Overview of Kalemouth Suspension Bridge |accessdate=8 September 2014}}</ref> There is another nearby bridge called the Kalemouth Bridge, which carries the A698 over the Kale Water.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/278459/details/kalemouth+bridge/ |title=Kalemouth Bridge |publisher=rcahms.gov.uk |accessdate=9 September 2014}}</ref>
The bridge works on the principle of suspension, and uses chains with long iron links for the suspension cables. Iron rods are used for suspenders to connect the chain to the deck of the bridge, and additional suspenders have been added in the middle of the chain links.<ref name=sp>{{cite web |url=http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/record/rcahms/58251/kalemouth-suspension-bridge/rcahms?item=494378 |title=Kalemouth Suspension Bridge |publisher=scotlandsplaces.gov.uk |accessdate=8 September 2014}}</ref> A red painted wooden truss supports the wooden deck, which is covered with a layer of asphalt.<ref name=sp/> The four ashlar pylons at the ends of the bridge are of pyramidal form.<ref name=sp/>
The bridge has a span of {{convert|180|ft}}, and is {{convert|16|ft}} wide.<ref name=p232>{{cite book |title=The new statistical account of Scotland |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f6I_AAAAcAAJ&pg=RA1-PA232 |year=1837 |publisher=Blackwood |page=232}}</ref>
==See also== *List of bridges in Scotland
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Commons category-inline}}
Category:Bridges in the Scottish Borders Category:Bridges across the River Teviot Category:Pedestrian bridges in Scotland Category:Suspension bridges in Scotland Category:Category A listed buildings in the Scottish Borders Category:Category A listed bridges Category:Former toll bridges in Scotland