The Builder
Country Life
Daily Telegraph
The Engineer
Evening Standard
The Gentleman’s Magazine
Illustrated London News
The Institution of Civil Engineers [ICE] Minutes of Proceedings
The Times
Books
I have used the following publications for background information on the history of London and the River Thames, on bridges and bridge building, on the railways of south London and for biographies of engineers and architects:
Bazalgette, Sir Joseph W., An account of the metropolitan bridges over the Thames (Metropolitan Board of Works, 1880)
Boswell, James, Life of Johnson (Richard Clay & Son, 1894)
Course, Edwin, London’s Railways: Then and Now (Batsford, 1987)
Defoe, Daniel, A Tour through the whole Island of Great Britain (D. Browne, 1762)
De Mare, Eric, Bridges of Britain (Batsford, 1975)
Dredge, J., Thames Bridges from the Tower to the Source (reproduced from Engineering, 1896–8)
Herring, J.H., Thames Bridges from London to Hampton Court (H.R. Pinder, 1884)
Hopkins, H.J., A Span of Bridges (David & Charles, 1970)
Jackson, Alan, London’s Termini (David & Charles, 1985)
Maitland, W., History and Survey of London (London, 1756)
Marshall, C.F.D., A History of the Southern Railway (Ian Allen, 1963)
Nicholls, C.S. (ed.), Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 1996)
Pannell, J.P.M., An Illustrated History of Civil Engineering (Thames & Hudson, 1964)
Philips, Geoffrey, Thames Crossings (David & Charles, 1981)
Phillips, Hugh, The Thames about 1750 (Collins, 1951)
Pudney, John, Crossing London’s River (Dent, 1972)
Rolt, L.T.C., Victorian Engineering (Penguin, 1988)
Ruddock, Ted, Arch Bridges and their Builders (Cambridge University Press, 1979)
Searle, Mark, Turnpikes and Toll-Bars (Hutchinson & Co., 1930)
Senior, W. et al., The Royal River (Cassell & Co., 1885)
Smiles, Samuel, Lives of the Engineers (John Murray, 1874)
Stow, John, A Survey of London (Clarendon Press, 1908)
Survey of London, The (London Survey Committee, 1900)
Timbs, John, Curiosities of London (John Camden Hotten, 1871)
Thornbury, W. and E. Walford, Old and New London (Cassell & Co., 1897)
Weinreb, Ben and Christopher Hibbert, The London Encyclopaedia (Macmillan, 1995)
White, H.P., The Regional History of Railways of Great Britain, Vol. 3 (David & Charles, 1971)
Official documents
Much detailed information has been gleaned from Acts of Parliament, select committee reports and Metropolitan Board of Works reports. The most significant Acts of Parliament for individual bridges are referenced under the relevant chapter. The following items cover several bridges and have been referred to a number of times in the text:
The Report of the Metropolitan Commission on Thames Bridges (HMSO, 1857)
The Metropolis Toll Bridges Act 40 & 41 Vic. I c. CXCII 1877
The Report of the Royal Commission on Cross-river Traffic in London (HMSO, 1926)
Sources for individual chapters
The main sources are listed here, including the most important Acts of Parliament. Press cuttings and articles from local and national newspapers and journals have provided additional information and anecdotes.
Chapter 1
Acts of Parliament
Richmond Bridge Act 13 Geo. III c. 83 1773
Publications
Cloake, John, Richmond Past: A Visual History of Richmond, Kew, Petersham and Ham (Historical Publications, 1991)
Crisp, Richard, Richmond and its Inhabitants from Olden Times (Sampson, Low and Marston, 1866)
Dunbar, Janet, A Prospect of Richmond (White Lion Publishers, 1973)
Howard, Diana, Richmond Bridge and other Thames crossings between Hampton and Barnes (London Borough of Richmond, 1976)
Matthews, Simon, Richmond Bridge Bicentenary 1777–1977 (C. James, 1980)
Ransomes and Rapier, Richmond and Twickenham footbridge, lock and weir (Waterlow & Sons Ltd, 1894)
Richmond Libraries Local Studies Collection archive material
Ceremonial programme for the opening of the Thames Bridges between Middlesex and Surrey (3 July 1933)
Ceremonial programme for the centenary of Richmond and Twickenham Footbridge, Lock and Weir (PLA, 1994)
Dalrymple-Hay, H.H., article in The Engineer on the widening of Richmond Bridge (16 April 1937)
Illustrated London News articles on Richmond Railway Bridge (21 October 1848 and 15 June 1867)
Maxwell, Donald, undated untitled article
Richmond and Twickenham Times articles
Richmond Bridge commissioners’ minute book 1773–86 (manuscript)
Chapter 2
Acts of Parliament
Kew Bridge Act 30 Geo. II c. 63 1757
Kew Bridge Act 22 Geo. III c. 42 1782
Kew Bridge Act 61 & 62 Vic. I c. CLV 1898
Publications
Barnard, John, Design of a bridge over the Thames at Kew (London, 1759)
Blomfield, David, Kew Past (Phillimore & Co., 1994)
Chancellor, E.B., An Account of the Bridges across the Thames at Kew (J.H. Broad, 1903)
Dickens, Charles, Dictionary of the Thames (Charles Dickens, 1879)
Jerome, Jerome K., Three Men in a Boat (Readers Library Publishing Co., 1929)
Thacker, E.S., Thames Highway (David & Charles, 1968)
Turner, Fred, The history and antiquities of Brentford (Walter Pearce & Co., 1922)
Richmond Libraries Local Studies Collection, and Chiswick and Hounslow Libraries Local Studies Collection archive material
The Engineer article on Kew Railway Bridge (16 April 1869)
Kew Bridge centenary display catalogue (Richmond Library, 2003)
Richmond History Journal article on Kew Bridge (Issue 25, 2004)
Chapter 3
Acts of Parliament
Middlesex and Surrey (Thames Bridges &c.) Act 13 Geo. V c. LXXII 1928
Hammersmith and Fulham Archives and Local History Centre archive material
Barnes and Mortlake History Society Newsletter
Ceremonial programme for the opening of the Thames bridges between Middlesex and Surrey (3 July 1933)
Crutwell, G.E., ‘The new bridge of the LCDR Company at Blackfriars’, in ICE Minutes of the Proceedings Vol. 101 (1889–90)
Roads and Road Construction Vol. 10 (June 1932)
Szlumper, A.W., ‘Barnes Bridge’, in ICE Minutes of the Proceedings Vol. 124 (1895–6)
Chapter 4
Acts of Parliament
Hammersmith Bridge Act 5 Geo. IV c. CXII 1824
Hammersmith Bridge Act 9 Geo. IV c. LII 1828
Hammersmith Bridge Act 46 & 47 Vic. I c. CLXXVII 1883
Publications
The history of Hammersmith Bridge up to 1987 has been covered in detail in Charles Hailstone’s comprehensively researched Hammersmith Bridge (E.H. Baker & Co. Ltd, 1987), and I am indebted to him for much of my material.
I have also consulted the following:
Faulkner, Thomas, The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Hammersmith (T. Faulkner, 1839)
Opening of Hammersmith Bridge (MBW, 1887)
Whiting, Philip D., A history of Hammersmith based upon that of Thomas Faulkner in 1839 (Hammersmith Local History Group, 1965)
Hammersmith and Fulham Archives and Local History Centre archive material
Cumming, T.G., Description of the iron bridges of suspension over the Straits of Menai and over the River Thames at Hammersmith (J. Taylor, 1828)
Franklin Journal and American Mechanics’ Magazine article on Hammersmith Bridge (April 1828)
Hammersmith Bridge Company records
West London Observer
articles
Chapter 5
Acts of Parliament
Fulham Bridge Act 12 Geo. I c. 36 1725–6
Fulham Bridge Act 1 Geo. II c. 18 1727–8
Metropolitan Bridges Act 44 & 45 Vic. I c. CXCII 1881
Wandsworth Bridge Act 27 & 28 Vic. I c. CCXXXVIII 1884
Publications
Bowack, John, The antiquities of Middlesex, Vol. 2 (S. Keble, 1706)
Chasmore, Archibald, The Old Bridge (T.C. Davidson, 1875)
Croker, Thomas Crofton, A Walk from London to Fulham (William Tegg, 1860)
Dewe, George, Fulham Bridge 1729–1886 (Fulham and Hammersmith Historical Society, 1986)
Faulkner, Thomas, The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Hammersmith (T. Faulkner, 1813)
Feret, Charles, Fulham old and new (Leadenhall Press, 1900)
Gerhold, Dorian, Putney and Roehampton Past (Historical Publications, 1994)
Wandsworth Local History Service archive material
Jones, T.E., ‘A short history of the three bridges over the Thames within the Fulham district’ (1880)
Wandsworth History Society News Sheet 1 (1969)
Articles and press cuttings from:
History Today
Putney and Wandsworth Borough News
Wandsworth Borough News
Wandsworth Historian
Chapter 6
Acts of Parliament
Battersea Bridge Act 6 Geo. 3 c. 66 1766
Chelsea Bridge Act 9 & 10 Vic. I c. 112 1846
Metropolitan Bridges Act 44 & 45 Vic. I c. CXCII 1881
Albert Bridge Act 27 & 28 Vic. I c. CCXXXV 1864
Metropolitan Bridges Act 47 & 48 Vic. I c. CCXXVIII 1884
Publications
Bryan, George, Chelsea in the Olden and Present Times (George Bryan, 1869)
Buckton, E.J., ‘Chelsea Bridge reconstruction’, in ICE Journal Vol. 7 No. 3 (January 1938)
Denny, Barbara, Chelsea Past (Historical Publications, 1996)
Simmonds, H.S., All about Battersea (Ashfield, 1882)
Taylor, J.G., Our Lady of Battersea (George White, 1925)
Walker, Annabel, Kensington and Chelsea (John Murray, 1987)
Kensington and Chelsea Local Studies Collection archive material
Ceremonial pamphlet on the opening of Chelsea Bridge (LCC, 1937)
Illustrated London News article on Albert Bridge (23 August 1873)
Illustrated London News article on Chelsea Bridge (25 September 1858)
London Metropolitan Archives archive material
Proof of evidence, Plans and Proceedings regarding the Public Inquiry into the proposed closure of Albert Bridge (HMSO, 1974)
Wandsworth Local History Service archive material
Minutes of Battersea Bridge Company 1776–93
‘The opening, free of toll, of Wandsworth, Putney (otherwise Fulham) and Hammersmith Bridges’ (MBW, June 1880)
South London Press, Putney and Wandsworth Borough News and Wandsworth Borough News articles
Chapter 7
Acts of Parliament
Vauxhall Bridge Act 49 Geo. III c. CXLII 1809
Lambeth Bridge Act 24 & 25 Vic. I c. CXVII 1861
Vauxhall Bridge Act 58 & 59 Vic. I c. CXXIX 1895
Publications
Allen, Thomas, The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Lambeth (J. Allen, 1827)
Copperthwaite, W.C., ‘Vauxhall Bridge’, in ICE Minutes of the Proceedings Vol. 169 (1906–7)
Dodd, Ralph, Introductory Report on the intended Bridge across the River Thames, from near Vauxhall to the opposite shore, etc. (London, 1810)
Fox, C.D., ‘The widening of Victoria Bridge’, in ICE Minutes of the Proceedings, Vol. 27 (1867–8)
Groves, G.L., ‘Lambeth Bridge’, in ICE Minutes of the Proceedings, Vol. 239 (1934–5)
Hollis, Charles, Proposed Improvements in Lambeth and Westminster (William Clowes, 1829)
Kumar, A., ‘Lambeth Bridge strengthening’, in ICE Minutes of the Proceedings, Vol. 156 (May 2003)
Robbins, Michael and T.C. Barker, The History of London Transport, Vol. 1 (Allen & Unwin, 1963)
Watson, Elizabeth, Westminster and Pimlico Past (Historical Publications, 1993)
Lambeth Archives material
Programme for the opening of Lambeth Bridge (LCC, 1932)
‘Programme and plan of route for the procession on the occasion of the opening, free of toll, of Lambeth, Vauxhall, Chelsea, Albert and Battersea Bridges’ (MBW, 1879)
Report of the Select Committee on Lambeth Bridge (House of Commons, 1928)
Chapter 8
Acts of Parliament
Westminster Bridge Act 9 Geo. II c. 29 1735–6
Westminster Bridge Act 16 & 17 Vic. I c. 46 1853
Publications
Hunting, Penelope, Royal Westminster (RICS, 1981)
Labelye, Charles, A Description of Westminster Bridge (W. Strahan, 1751)
Langley, Batty, A Survey of Westminster Bridge as ’tis now sinking into ruin (M. Cooper, 1748)
Walcott, M.E.C., Westminster (J. Masters, 1849)
Walker, R.J.B., Old Westminster Bridge (David & Charles, 1979)
Watson, Elizabeth, Westminster and Pimlico Past (Historical Publications, 1993)
City of Westminster Archives Centre material
Carson, P., Journal of Transport History article on Westminster Bridge (1957)
Reports of the select committees on Westminster Bridge (1844–57)
Chapter 9
Acts of Parliament
Hungerford Bridge Act 6 & 7 William IV c. CXXXIII 1836
Hungerford Railway Bridge Act 27 & 28 Vic. I c. LXXXI 1859
Publications
Anon., Descriptive particulars of Hungerford suspension bridge (London, 1845)
Gater, George, The Survey of London (LCC, 1937)
Keen, Arthur, Charing Cross Bridge (Ernest Benn, 1930)
MOT London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, Report on Charing Cross Bridge (HMSO, 1936)
Parker, J. et al., ‘Hungerford Bridge Millennium project’, in ICE Minutes of the Proceedings, Issue CE (May 2003)
Timbs, John, The Romance of London (Frederick Warne & Co., 1928)
City of Westminster Archives Centre material
Review of the Charing Cross Bridge Scheme (City of Westminster, 1935)
Chapter 10
Acts of Parliament
Strand Bridge Act 49 Geo. III c. CXCI 1809
Strand Bridge Act 56 Geo. III c. LXIII 1816
Publications
Bruce, J., The History of the Ancient Savoy Palace, built by the Duke de Savoy, A.D. 1245, now the site of the Waterloo Bridge (Sherwood, Neely & Jones, 1817)
Buckton, E.J., ‘The demolition of Waterloo Bridge’, in ICE Journal, Vol. 3 No. 8 (1936)
Buckton, E.J., ‘The new Waterloo Bridge’, in ICE Journal, Vol. 20 No. 7 (1943)
Elliot, M., Waterloo Bridge: Its Swansong (Gibbs, Bemwold & Co., 1934)
Rayburn, Wallace, Bridge across the Atlantic (Harrap, 1972)
Waterloo Bridge Opening (LCC, 1945)
City of Westminster Archives Centre material
Pamphlets on the LCC Strand underpass and the archaeology of the Strand
Chapter 11
Acts of Parliament
Blackfriars Bridge Act 29 Geo. II c. 86 1755–6
Blackfriars Bridge Act 26 & 27 Vic. I c. LXII 1863
City of London (Blackfriars and other Bridges) Act 5 Edw. VII c. CLXXX 1906
Publications
Anderson, D. and H. Cunningham, ‘The widening of Blackfriars Bridge’, in ICE Minutes of the Proceedings, Vol. 190 (1911–12)
Ashton, J., The fleet, its river, prison, and marriages (T. Fisher Unwin, 1888)
Crutwell, G.E., ‘The new bridge of the LCDR Company at Blackfriars’, in ICE Minutes of the Proceedings, Vol. 101(1889–90)
Glossop, Rudolph, Blackfriars Bridge under Construction (Mowlem, 1965)
Gray, Adrian, The
London, Chatham & Dover Railway (Meresborough Books, 1984)
Lucey, William, The cost of new Blackfriars Bridge (Waterlow & Sons, 1862)
Paterson, J., A Plan to Raise £300,000 (London, 1767)
Publicus, Observations on Bridge Building (J. Townsend, 1760)
Richardson, A.E., Robert Mylne, Architect and Engineer (B.T. Batsford, 1955)
Guildhall and London Metropolitan Archives material
Blackfriars Bridge Committee minute book 1772–8 and 1778–84
City of London Common Council Blackfriars Bridge Reports (1754, 1759, 1771, 1776, 1784, 1786, 1840, 1841, 1909, 1911)
Chapter 12
Publications
Sudjic, Deyan, Blade of Light (Penguin Press, 2001)
Southwark Local History Library archive material
Miscellaneous press articles from local and national newspapers
Chapter 13
Acts of Parliament
Southwark Bridge Act 51 Geo. III c. 166 1811
Corporation of London (Bridges) Act 2 Geo. V c. CXX 1911
Publications
Jackson, Alan, London’s Termini (David & Charles, 1985)
Rennie, John, Autobiography (E.F.N. Spon, 1875)
Guildhall Library and Southwark Local History Library archive material
Anon., Some Account of the Southwark Bridge (Nicholas, Son and Bentley, 1917)
Bridge House Estates Committee reports (City of London, 1903, 1910)
Lippard, D.C., ‘Cannon Street Station air rights development’, in ICE Minutes of the Proceedings, Vol. 99 (1993)
Southwark Bridge (City of London, 1921)
Subscriber, A, Considerations on the proposed Southwark Bridge (Sherwood, Neely & Jones, 1813)
Chapter 14
Acts of Parliament
London Bridge Act 29 Geo. II c. 40 1756
London Bridge Act 4 Geo. IV c. 50 1823
London Bridge Act 1967
Publications
Chamberlain, H., A New and compleat History and Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster (J. Cooke, 1770)
City of London Engineers Department, The Story of Three Bridges: The History of London Bridge (Finsbury Publishing Ltd, 1973)
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