Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/81



BEDFORD LEVEL.
THE description of the several rivers, canals, and navigable drains, within the limits of this extensive level, with the several acts, under authority of which, they have been executed, will be introduced in their respective places in alphabetical order. 

BERWICK AND KELSO RAILWAY.
31 George III. Cap. 133, Royal Assent 31st May, 1811.

In the year 1811, an act was obtained to make a railway from Spittal, near Berwick, to Kelso, in Roxburgshire, entitled,  'An Act for making and maintaining a Railway from, or from near to, Spittal, in the county of Durham, to Kelso, in the county of Roxburgh; and for erecting and maintaining a Bridge over the River Tweed, from the parish of Norham, in the county of Durham, to the parish of Coldstream, in the county of Berwick.' 

The line commences at Spittal, opposite the town of Berwick, on the south bank of the River Tweed, and continues parallel to the course of that river, by Tweedmouth, and East Ord, through the parish of Norham, to near Twisell, the seat of Sir Francis Blake, where it crosses the Tweed, and enters Scotland. Passing hence, by Kersfield, and to the north of Hirsel, the seat of the Earl of Home, it crosses the Leet Water, and thence, keeps the north bank of the Tweed, to its termination at Kelso.

At the time the act was obtained, there were one hundred and thirty-two subscribers, who were incorporated under the name of "The Berwick and Kelso Railway Company." They were empowered to raise among themselves £100,000, in one thousand shares of £100 each, with a further power of raising among themselves £50,000 in addition, or by promissory notes, under the common seal of the company; or they may raise the same, or any portion of it, on mortgage of the tolls authorized to be collected under the powers of this act.