Communities celebrate historic crossing's 200th anniversary
Sign warns of £2 fine or jail for rule-breakers...
Last updated 26th Oct 2026
Anyone caught deliberately swinging an historic footbridge in the Scottish Borders is warned they could face a £2 fine or even imprisonment.
That's, at least, according to signs which have stood for generations, hanging at either entrance.
They also warn no more than eight people are allowed on at any one time.
Perhaps just as well the Chain Bridge linking Melrose and Gattonside was strengthened in the early 1990s to reduce its sway.
Before the crossing existed, it’s claimed monks from the nearby abbey used stilts to make their way across the River Tweed.
That might have been a particularly difficult task today (Monday), with water levels high following the weekend’s storms.
But despite the conditions, the community turned out this morning to celebrate the landmark's 200th anniversary.
The 91-metre suspension bridge, which sits with the picturesque Eildon Hills as its backdrop, was officially opened on October 26th, 1826 following a local fundraising campaign, and continues to provide a direct link between the two communities.
When it first opened, passengers had to pay a toll at the neighbouring toll house to use the crossing.
Today, a piper led a weel-kent face from each side to the centre of the bridge, which was decorated with home-made bunting, for a symbolic handshake during a special ceremony to mark the occasion.
Councillor John Greenwell, Executive member for Roads and Public Space at Scottish Borders Council, said: “The Chain Bridge is a much-loved landmark and an important connection between Melrose and Gattonside.
"This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate its history and the generations of local people who have crossed it."
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Local school children - as well as some adults - then took part in a game of Pooh sticks - a simple game made famous by Winnie-the-Pooh in A. A. Milne’s children’s books.
Each dropped a small stick into the water on the upstream side before peering over the opposite side to see whose stick emerged first.
Councillor Jenny Linehan, who represents Leaderdale and Melrose on Scottish Borders Council, told Greatest Hits Radio: "It's really exciting.
“The bridge itself is really important because it was one of the early bridges that came before the Forth Road Bridge and the Bristol suspension bridges. So it is actually an engineering marvel in its own right.
“This celebration will bring both sides of the river together and give local children a memorable way to take part in the anniversary."
And the local authority's Executive member for Environment, Sustainability and Transport, added: “Let’s hope it’s here for another 200 years at least."
The bridge - still known to many as the swing bridge - is part of the Southern Upland Way, Britain’s first official coast-to-coast long-distance footpath.
David Langworth, from Melrose Paths Group, said the anniversary was an opportunity to celebrate the bridge and the routes it connects.
Also in attendance was Dave Lyle, whose family has lived in Gattonside for four generations.
“It means everything," he said. "You can just get to Melrose on foot, you can cycle over, and it’s just a way of connecting to Melrose.”
When asked if he was aware of anyone who had been fined for breaking the rules, he added: “Not that I know of, but if there was a fine, they’d have made a fortune."
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