Kelso Bridge

About Kelso Bridge

Kelso Bridge was built by John Rennie, a famous Scottish engineer. It was opened in 1803. It replaced a previous bridge that had been washed away in 1797. The bridge has five arches and remained the only river crossing in Kelso until 1998. Tolls were originally levied on the bridge – there is a Toll House at the northern end of the bridge – and close examination of the parapets will show grooves worn by those crossing the bridge using the coins needed to pay the toll. He repeated much of his design for Kelso Bridge in his London Bridge, opened in 1824. When this was demolished in the 1970’s a pair of gas lamp standards were taken to Kelso and attached to the south end of the bridge.
Ogilvie knew this bridge well. He used his memories of it, while an exile, to inspire this thoughtful poem, Kelso Bridge