The Two Bridges

Rennie’s Bridge, that you go over, was designed by John Rennie, a smaller version of Waterloo Bridge in London.

The present bridge was built from 1800-1803.

Designed by John Rennie and built by Murray and Lees between 1800 and 1803 Kelso Bridge has five elliptical arches of 72 feet span, 10 feet rise, and is 24 feet wide between the parapets. A pair of engaged Doric Columns rises from the semi-circular cutwaters on each of the piers. Due to the high approach at the south end of the bridge and in order to keep the deck level, an embankment had to be built at the north end, and carries the A699 public road between the north and south of the town.

Further downstream from the Kelso Bridge is Hunter’s Bridge a concrete viaduct opened in 1998 to direct traffic away from the centre of Kelso