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C O N T E X T 1 7 9 : M A R C H 2 0 2 4 35 HADRIAN’S WALL both authorities and work could proceed with the minimum of delay. Overall, the consent process was managed proactively from start to finish with effective cross-border cooperation. In parallel with the formal consents being sought, a major exercise was undertaken to develop a funding package for all the works, which had an ultimate price tag of around £7.5 million. The principal funders were the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Scottish Borders Council, Northumberland County Council, Historic Environment Scotland, Historic England, Friends of the Union Chain Bridge, Sustrans and a range of other contribu- tors. While some funds could be used on all of the bridge without restriction, other grants, in particular those from Historic Environment Scotland and Historic England, could be used only for the parts of the structure in their respec- tive nations. Historic Environment Scotland funded the works to the Scottish pylon and Historic England to the English abutment. Technical aspects Northumberland County Council acted as the lead consultant for the design and implementa- tion of the works. The main contractor was Hull-based Spencer Bridge Engineering, whose experience of bridge works includes working on the Menai suspension bridge. The challenge of undertaking work over the Tweed without using extensive scaffolding or temporary structures in the water was met by using an overhead cable crane (effectively a second suspension bridge) being installed at a higher level. This provided a mobile gantry with electric winches to enable the works to take place safely. The complete bridge structure was dismantled and taken to a local facility, where each section of the ironwork was tagged and its condition examined. The majority of the suspension links were reuseable, although new hangers were installed throughout as the bridge was reas- sembled on site. Two new statues were com- missioned from artist Sebastien Boyesen: one of Captain Samuel Brown, the other of a modern female civil engineer in hard hat and boots. Associated learning A Union Bridge community outreach pro- gramme, ‘Crossing borders, inspiring communi- ties’, was led by Museums Northumberland from 2020–23, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The aims of the project were to celebrate the extraordinary engineering, land- scape and context with communities on both sides of the border and to provide local schools with STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) learning opportunities. More than 3,000 pupils at 18 primary schools and three secondary schools, and 800 members of the public, took part in STEM activities and work- shops. Local volunteers (including the author of this article) were recruited for community archaeology and oral history projects. Reopening After the project was delayed by the pandemic, the refurbished bridge was finally reopened in April 2023. A family celebration day was held on 26 July 2023, exactly 203 years after the bridge was originally opened, with a ceremony held in the middle of the bridge on the national bound- ary, and a piper from each country leading the way. The weight limit has been raised from 2 to 3 tonnes, although the width restriction remains. The project received the Georgian Group’s Architectural Award in 2023. Mark Douglas, now retired, was team leader (heritage and design) in the planning service of Scottish Borders Council, and a volunteer community archaeology member of the Union Chain Bridge Project. One of the junctions between the suspension bars and hangers before and after repair work How the chain- link connector is constructed (Image: Northumberland County Council)
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