The Union Chain Bridge spans the River Tweed connecting the parishes of Horncliffe in England, and Hutton in Scotland, 5 miles upstream from Berwick-upon-Tweed. Designed by an entrepreneurial naval officer, Captain Sir Samuel Brown, over 200 years ago, the Category A/Grade I listed structure was the first chain suspension bridge in Europe to carry wheeled traffic.
Before the Union Chain Bridge was built, the only available crossings over the River Tweed at this locality were by ford or, occasionally, by ferry. Depending on the time of year, recent rainfall, and the tide, this could often make crossing the river impossible or dangerous. When opened, in 1820, the Union Chain Bridge saved local people a detour of over 10 miles to the next nearest safe vehicle crossing over the river, either Berwick Old Bridge or Coldstream Bridge.