BERWICK JOURNAL, 6TH DECEMBER 1923
BERWICK’S NEW BRIDGE
NORTHUMBERLAND APPROVES OF THE SCHEME
Northumberland County Council met on Monday in Moot Hall, Newcastle, to consider reports of Finance Committee and Bridges and Roads Committee relative to proposed new Bridge at Berwick, together with estimates of capital expenditure.
Now structure is proposed to be erected North Tweedmouth Station on Great North Road, and will cross from Knowe Head directly into Marygate, main street of Berwick, spanning the Tweed between Royal Border Bridge and Berwick Bridge. Estimated cost of the bridge and approaches, acquisition of land and buildings, is £160,000, including £10,000 for contingences. Ministry of Transport has agreed to find 75 per cent of the cost, or £120,000, and County Council 15 per cent., or £24,000. Berwick is to make a contribution of £10,000, ad this leaves a balance of about £6,000, to be charged equally between County Council and Berwick. County’s estimated share of the cost is thus £27,000, and Berwick’s total contribution is £13,000.
PLEA FOR BERWICK’S OLD BRIDGE
Ald. J.R. Hogg, expressed the opinion that a very excellent arrangement had been made with Government in the matter of the grant for £12,00. Without at all infringing on politics, on might fairly say £120,000 spent in our own country on bridges was a much better proposition than 120 millions spent in Mesopotamia or some other part if the world. At the same time he wished to put in a plea for the Old Bridge.
He did not see a word in the report as to what its fate was to be. He saw it was stated in the report of bridges and Roads Committee – “The existing bridge would be costly to repair, and even if repaired, would be unsafe for the purposes of modern traffic.” That looked as though the old Bridge was going to be derelict.
Chairman – Oh, no.
Ald. Hogg- I am very glad to have that assurance. The Old Bridge at Berwick does not possess the interest of the Old Bridge at Ayr, which was immortalised by Burns and saved from destruction by Lord Rosebery, but it has a peculiar interest of its own. For 300 years it has been one of the leading means of communication between England and Scotland, and served its purpose long before express trains and motor cars were thought of. As an antiquary, apart from any other interest, I should be extremely sorry if the Bridge were not maintained- certainly for foot passengers, and as a picturesque feature of the landscape.
Rev. Alex. Campbell-Fraser expressed the hope that the best artistic authorities would be consulted in regard to the architecture of the bridge. Berwick had suffered very much in the past from vandalism. The railway Station was in the Great Hall of the Castle. One would like to know out of regard for that very fine view entering Scotland from the Railway Bridge, that they had got the very best artistic taste to guide then in the matter.
DETAILS OF THE OLD BRIDGE
Coun. T. B. Short mentioned the interesting fact that he had the wage records, the cost, and every detail connected with the construction of the Old Bridge. It was done under the direction of Dean and Chapter of Durham, Palatinate.
On North side was a fault in the river bed, and they noticed in coming across the Bridge that the middle arch was at one side. That was the highest arch. It was done to span where they could not get foundations. 171 oak trees were put into one of the piers. They were from Chopwell and were taken round by ship to Berwick. The time the Bridge took for construction was 24 years, 4 months and 4 days. It was started with direct labour, but eventually Dean and Chapter became so impatient that they let the last 5 arches, with the result that they were done in less than 6 months.
“If we want the work done speedily,” was the lesson he pointed, “it will be well to remember this, and let this contract.”
Reports and recommendations of the 2 Committees were then voted upon and unanimously adopted.
TODAY’S THE POLLING DAY- WHO GOES IN?
This day (Thursday) from 8 am – 8pm – that is “Round the Clock” – the ballot boxes in Berwick Division Polling Booths ( from Berwick Bounds to Amble Coast, from well west of Norham’s Castle Steep away to the Back of Beyond in among the Cheviots), will be “telling the tale,” as the clock ticks out the seconds, marks the minutes, and throbs the hours of the twelve – one half of a whole day – specially allotted to the process and progress of voting. If there is a voting power equal to every 2 seconds of the 12 hours that will give a total poll of 21,600. At any rate, there may be about 20,000 scraps of paper silently secreted in the uninteresting looking tin boxes standing unconcernedly in the voting places but settling all the same a most important matter – who is the winner in Berwick Division.
So far as can be gathered it seems to be a case of what the “3-Card Trick Man” says when he puts down his trio “Find the Lady.” This Election in Berwick Division is called a Woman v. Woman Fight, which justifies Capt. Robson’s statement that he is “The Only Man in the Field.”
In an appeal to women on behalf of her husband, Mrs Iris Robson says Conservatives wish to tax cheap foreign goods coming into our Country. The sooner this is done, the better for the Trade of Britain and for the Workers of our own Country.
Mrs Penny calls upon the electors to “Support the Common People,” which is quite as it should be for this is an Election for the Common.
BERWICK DIVISION POLLING DAY
How Things Are Going
[From Our Own Correspondence]
(By Phone and Wire)
CAPT.ROBSON GETS HORSE SHOW
Capt. Robson was early astir and along with Mrs Robson, visited the Liberal Committee Rooms, about 8.30. Capt. Robson took the opportunity of thanking his workers for all they had done. He was presented with a horse shoe decorated in the party colours, while Mrs Robson was made the recipient of a beautiful bouquet of violets tied in blue ribbon.
MRS PENNY AT BERWICK POLLING STATION
Mrs Penny paid a visit to the Town Hall about 11 o’clock, and had a talk with some of her workers, before proceeding on a tour of the constituency. Before her departure Miss Gaul presented her with a sprig of white heather.
BOUQUET FOR MRS PHILIPSON
Mrs Philipson left Berwick this morning at 9.30 on a tour of the constituency. Before her departure she was presented with a beautiful bouquet by Miss May Younger, on behalf of the Ladies Committee. There was a good crowd in Hide Hill to see her away and received rousing cheers as the car drove off. The car was tastefully decorated with the party colours.
BERWICK DIVISION FIGHT
(Result in the Berwick Journal 17th December)
Mrs PHILIPSON (Con)……10636
Capt. Robson (Lib)…………8767
Mrs Penny (Lab)……………2784
Majority………………1859
LAST BY-ELECTION RESULT
Mrs Philipson (C.)……………12,000
Capt. Harold Robson (Lib)…..5,858
Mr G. Oliver (Lab)…………….3,966
Majority…………………6,142