Twizell Bridge

Twizell Bridge
Twizell Bridge viewed from the south
Coordinates 55°41′N 02°11′W / 55.683°N 2.183°W / 55.683; -2.183
Carries Pedestrians since 1983
Crosses River Till
Locale Northumberland, England
Heritage status Scheduled monument and grade I listed
Characteristics
Design Arch bridge
Width 4.6 m (15 ft)
Longest span 27.4 m (90 ft)
Clearance above 12.2 m (40 ft)
History
Opened 1511
Closed 1983 (to vehicular traffic)

Twizell Bridge (also spelt Twizel Bridge) is a Tudor arch bridge which crosses the River Till near Duddo, Northumberland in the Northeast of England. It is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument and no longer carries vehicular traffic. The bridge played a role in the Battle of Flodden in 1513.[1]

History

Twizel Bridge was built in 1511, when it provided the only dry crossing over the River Till between its confluence with the River Tweed and the village of Etal some 5 miles (8 kilometres) to the southeast.[2] It was the longest stone span of any bridge in England for three centuries.[3] Local legend suggests that it was built by a lady of the Selby family, whose seat was Twizell Castle nearby. The bridge is described by the antiquary John Leland in his Itineraries (c. 1538–1543) as "Twisle Bridge of Stone, one bow, but greate and stronge".[4]

On the morning of 9 September 1513, the English army commanded by Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey undertook a march northwards to outflank the invading Scottish army commanded by James IV of Scotland, which was encamped at Flodden Hill. The English artillery train and vanguard under Edmund Howard crossed the Till at Twizel Bridge, while the main English force crossed by fords and smaller bridges upstream.[5] By making this manoeuvre, Surrey forced King James to abandon his secure position on Flodden Hill and the resulting battle that afternoon was fought on ground which was disadvantageous to the Scottish tactics and contributed to their defeat.[6]

Alterations in 1770 and 1820 added small flood arches and a rebuilt parapet with a decorative dentil cornice. The bridge carried the main A698 road from Hawick to Berwick-upon-Tweed until 1983, when a modern bridge was completed immediately to the south.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "The tiny stone bridge that changed the course of British history". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  2. ↑ "Twizel Bridge". co-curate.ncl.ac.uk. Co-Curate NE. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  3. ↑ Knowles, Eleanor. "Twizel Bridge". www.engineering-timelines.com. Engineering Timelines. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "Twizell Castle and Bridge". www.coldstreamhistorysociety.co.uk. The Coldstream and District Local History Society. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  5. ↑ Hallam-Baker, Clive (2012). The Battle of Flodden: How and Why. The Remembering Floden Project. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-9573313-0-3.
  6. ↑ Hallam-Baker (2012), pp. 147-148
  7. ↑ "Pastscape - TWIZEL BRIDGE". www.pastscape.org.uk. Historic England. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
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