Berwick-upon-Tweed
England’s most northerly town… and home.
Berwick-upon-Tweed, February 2024
Fujifilm X-Pro2 | 55mm f/7.1 1/320s ISO320
Home. Once we’d decided to move from the West of Scotland, Berwick quite quickly became an obvious choice. In terms of a top four reasons, we’d cite the following:
We wanted to be by the sea and the location gives us easy access to some of the most fabulous coastline in the UK.
Access to our two girls. Both work in Edinburgh and this is now only around 40 minutes away by train, compared to a two hour journey previously.
Transport links were also important, and being on the main rail line gives easy access not only to Edinburgh, but Newcastle, Durham and York, to name a few, further south.
Amenities. Where we were almost everything was a car journey away. While Berwick is a relatively modest northern town, it does boast a much wider range of bars, restaurants and other amenities.
So, while we chose the location primarily as a hub to access the surround areas, Berwick itself is not lacking in facilities and interest. At the time of writing, we’re really only just starting to explore the town and this post will, undoubtedly, change and expand as we get to know the area.
I think it’s probably fair to say that, in common with many regional centres, retail on the main high street has probably seen better days. The consolidation of retail in larger retail parks combined with the rise of the internet shopping has, predictably, taken its toll.
That said, there are a number of good quality, individual bars and restaurants that cater for locals and visitors alike. It’s also a seasonal coastal town, so summers are inevitably busier than winters. But the town has a rich history and will provide plenty of scope for further exploration.
Being by the sea one obvious attraction is the beach with its interesting circular formations. Similarly, the lighthouse should provide plenty of photographic opportunities across the seasons, either as a main subject or a backdrop. I may even explore the idea of a monthly lighthouse shot…
Berwick also boasts some architectural highlights, including the old town walls, ramparts and barracks. These are all on our ToDo list. The architecture certainly gives the town it’s own character, as does the history. Berwick’s position on the border between England and Scotland means that it has changed hands several times over the centuries. This liminal position gives Berwick a unique identity, in parts English, Scottish, British or simply Berwick. Or, as has been remarked, confused…
The history and character of the town comes through not just in the larger features, but the smaller details. As I wander around the town I think it will pay dividends to keep an eye out for these little illustrations of Berwick.
The town itself sits at the mouth of the River Tweed and the three bridges, the Royal Border Bridge, Royal Tweed Bridge and Berwick Bridge (or the Old Bridge), collectively know as the three bridges, are another one of Berwick’s distinctive features.
Three Bridges, February 2023
Fujifilm X-Pro2 | 50mm f/4 1/640s ISO200
At the time of writing, however, the Old Bridge is undergoing some extensive repairs ahead of its 400 year anniversary and is largely covered in scaffolding. This has meant that any photographic exploration has been limited to shooting the Royal Border Bridge which carries trains on the East Coast mainline.
We have, however, only just started to scratch the surface. There is still much to explore…
