ABSTRACT
In the spring of 1604, Berwick received a new charter from the king who supplemented it with an order to the Captain of Berwick making it clear that the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses were to take possession of the royal buildings in the town. Work on the bridge started on 19 June 1611, and a detailed account of the expenditure was duly forwarded by the mayor and corporation to Lord Salisbury at the end of September. Berwick bridge came again before the Council on 5 April. They had before them an abstract of the corporation's accounts up to 31 December 1619, prepared by the auditors of the Exchequer. The bishop undertook the Council's commission to set the affairs of Berwick bridge in order with characteristic vigour. To ensure the technical feasibility of the contract, the bishop had with him at Berwick the New castle bridge master, John Johnson.
