Albert Bridge
Chelsea/Battersea, London SW3 and SW11

Spanning the Thames from Chelsea to Battersea, the stunning Albert Bridge is without doubt London's prettiest bridge. 

In 1983 it was repainted in delicate ice cream colours and Albert Bridge adds great variety to the London river scene.  At night the elegant floodlit structure is beautifully reflected in the swirling water below.  

A 1864 Act of Parliament authorised the construction of a bridge but there were long delays before it was opened to traffic in 1873.Designed by Roland Mason Ordish, Albert Bridge was originally a cantilever bridge, with each half of the bridge being supported by bars radiating out from the top of its supporting towers. 

The 710 ft long bridge was made up of two side spans of 155 ft and a centre of 400 ft.  The roadway was 41 ft in width.   Built in a grand Victorian manner, the bridge was finished with lanterns and topped by ornate pagodas giving it a vaguely oriental appearance. 

The Albert Bridge Company were also made responsible for up-keep of Battersea Bridge but the company could not afford to maintain either with the revenue raised by toll charges.  In 1878 both bridges were purchased by the Metropolitan Board of Works and in 1879 became toll-free. 

In 1884 Sir Joseph Bazalgette strengthened and modernised Albert Bridge and his modifications made the structure more like a conventional suspension bridge.  At the same time a 5 ton weight limit was imposed on vehicles.  For the following 60 years the bridge was well maintained. 

After World War II the Victorian bridge was too weak to bear the increased weight of modern traffic.  When the LCC announced that they intended to demolish Albert Bridge there was a huge outcry from the Chelsea conservationists, led by Sir John Betjeman.   Fortunately the conservationists overcame the town planners and Albert Bridge was saved.  As a result Albert Bridge is the only bridge in central London never to have been replaced. 

In 1973 the bridge was reopened to light traffic after two concrete piers were constructed under the main span to give the bridge added support.  In addition, a new lighter deck was laid and the weight limit reduced to 2 tons. 

At each end of the bridge is a notice instructing the soldiers of nearby Chelsea Barracks to break step when marching over the bridge.  It is thought that the vibrations caused by marching in step would damage the delicate structure.

Blackfriars Railway Bridge
Blackfriars and Southwark, London SE1 and EC4

In 1860 the London Chatham & Dover Railway (LDCR) was allowed to build an extension from its existing station at Beckenham to Ludgate Hill in the City of London.  The new railway line would cross the Thames beside Blackfriars Bridge. 

As the road bridge was being rebuilt by Joseph Cubitt, it was agreed that he should design both bridges.  Work started on the railway bridge in 1862 and the bridge and the station, then called St Paul's, opened in  1864. 

The wrought-iron girder railway bridge has spans supported by masonry abutments and composite piers.  Since the bridge formed part of St Paul's Station it was given a great deal of cast-iron ornamentation.  The supports had ornate Romanesque capitals and decorated with large, brightly coloured  shields incorporating the coat of arms of the LCDR.     

The Blackfriars Railway Bridge carried only four tracks and 20 years later it was decided to construct a second railway bridge beside the first.  Designed by W. Mills, the new wrought-iron bridge opened in 1886.  Its river spans match the old bridge, and on the downstream side the bridge is decorated with pulpit turrets, while on the upstream side there are Gothic-style cast-iron parapets.

Following the re-organisation of the railways in 1923, the new Southern Railway decided to concentrate all its long-distance and Continental traffic at Waterloo and Victoria. As a result St Paul's Station lost all but its local and suburban services. 

In 1937 St Paul's Station was renamed Blackfriars Station and the St Paul's Railway Bridge lost its identity to become just a widening of Blackfriars Railway Bridge. 

However, by the mid-20th century the old bridge was considered too weak to carry modern trains and the obsolete railway bridge was eventually dismantled in 1984.  

Today all that is left are the ornate red columns of the original bridge.  One of the cast-iron shields bearing the insignia of the LCDR can now be seen on display on the South Bank. 

Chiswick Bridge
Grove Park/Mortlake, London W4 and SW14

Chiswick Bridge is famous for being virtually on the finishing point of the annual Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race

This crossing was part of a major rebuilding and improvement scheme for the Great Chertsey Road.   Twickenham Bridge and Hampton Court Bridge were also part of the plan and Chiswick Bridge was the first of the three new bridges to be opened by the Prince of Wales on 3 July 1933. 

Designed by Sir Herbert Baker, Chiswick Bridge is 607 ft long and 70 ft wide between the parapets. 

Chiswick Bridge is very similar in design to Twickenham Bridge. Both bridges were constructed of ferro-concrete but Chiswick Bridge was also clad with 3,400 tons of 535c28f Portland stone.     

Kew Bridge
Kew, Brentford and Richmond

Three bridges have spanned the Thames at this point, but before the first bridge was built a horse-ferry carried traffic across the river. 

From 1659, the ferry was owned by the Tunstall family of Brentford.  Robert Tunstall petitioned Parliament to replace the ferry with a bridge and in 1757 was authorised to begin construction 100 yards down-stream.  The structure was built in 1758 - 59 by John Barnard, who had worked on Westminster Bridge

The scour of the river began to cause damage to the wooden structure and, because the bridge was difficult to navigate, it was regularly hit by barges. 

A new bridge, designed by James Paine, was built of Portland and Purbeck stone.  In 1789 the new stone bridge was opened with a long procession led by George III. 

In 1873 the bridge was sold to the Metropolitan Board of Works, who made it free of tolls. Later, the bridge was transferred to the Surrey and Middlesex County Councils. 

The councils agreed to widened the structure.   Sir John Wolfe Barry, who created Tower Bridge, informed the counties that the bridge should be rebuilt for reasons of safety and economy. 

In 1898 an Act was passed to replace Paine's bridge and the new structure was built by Easton Gibb to the designs of Sir John Wolfe-Barry and C A Brereton.  Constructed with concrete foundations and piers and abutment of granite from Aberdeen and Cornwall, the bridge has three arches and is decorated with the coats of arms of the two counties. 

Opened by Edward VII in 1903, the new structure was named the King Edward VII Bridge in his honour.  However, the new name was unpopular and after a few years it reverted to Kew Bridge.

Millennium Bridge
St Paul's and Bankside, London SE1 and EC4

In 1996, a competition was held to design a new footbridge over the Thames, which was won by the architects Foster & Partners, sculptor Anthony Caro and engineers Ove Arup and Partners The shallow suspension bridge was a built in 2000 - 01. 

Linking St Paul's to Tate Modern, Bankside, the Millennium Bridge was the first completely new pedestrian bridge to be constructed over the Thames for a hundred years.  The innovative structure achieves a simple form that spans the river as an elegant 'blade'.  At night the illuminated bridge is said to form a 'Blade of Light'. 

In 2001 a few days after its inauguration, it developed an 'unexpected wobble', and the structure was closed to the public until a 'passive dampening solution' was installed to cure the problem. 

Hidden beneath the bridge, the dampening system has not spoilt its elegant lines.

A new restriction was also introduced to limit the number of people allowed on the bridge at any one time.  The Millennium Bridge was re-opened to the public in 2002 and since then has shown no signs of wobbling

Richmond Lock
Twickenham and Old Deer Park/St Margaret's Richmond

When the old London Bridge was demolished in 1832, the removal of the palisades, constructed to protect the bridge, resulted in the tides on the Thames rising and falling far more rapidly than they had done. This, together with dredging of the lower river, meant that for long periods the Thames at Twickenham and Richmond was little more than a stream running through mudbanks. 

In 1890, after many years of petitioning, permission was granted to build a half-lock and weir downstream of Richmond Bridge.  

To restore the river to its former state  a barge lock was constructed against the Surrey side joined by a weir to three roller slipways for small craft on the Middlesex side.  

As a superstructure was required to operate the sluice mechanism, it was agreed to construct this in the form of two footbridges. The footbridges was opened by the Duke and Duchess of York in 1894. 

The footbridges at Richmond Lock were the last on the tidal river to levy tolls, they were abolished in 1938.      

Tower Bridge
The City and Bermondsey, London E1 and SE1

Tower Bridge is one London's great landmarks and 'The Tower Bridge Experience' is one of the capital's most unusual and exciting exhibitions.

By the middle of the 19th century traffic necessitated a new bridge close to the Tower of London.  The new bridge would serve the people of east London who had to make lengthy detours across the capital to cross the Thames at London Bridge. 

A major problem was that the new bridge had to be constructed to allow the passage of tall ships into the Port of London.  In 1878 the City Engineer, Sir Horace Jones, suggested a double-leaf bascule bridge. In 1885 an Act of Parliament was passed authorising the construction of Tower Bridge.  The Act stipulated that the bridge be clad to match the style of the Tower of London.

Tower Bridge, one of the great symbols of London, was built between 1886 - 94.  Sir Horace died shortly after the foundation work began and his modified plan was carried out by Barry, assisted by Brunel (the younger) and the resident engineer, Crutwell. 

Two major piers were sunk into the riverbed to support the construction. The piers are 185 ft long and 70 ft wide, with central areas of 70 ft square forming the base of the towers.  The main towers have columns 120 ft high, while the smaller towers on the shore have columns 44 ft high. 

The 270 ft side spans are suspension platforms supported by chains anchored in the rear of the abutments and carried over the two smaller towers to the main towers.   Here they are joined by rods concealed in the decorative wrought-iron of the two walkways.  The towers and linking catwalk provide support for the roadway's steam-operated lifting mechanism. 

In all 11,000 tonnes of steel were required for the framework of the towers and walkways which was then clad in Cornish granite, with Portland stone for the dressings and window mullions.  This provided protection the underlying steelwork and gave the bridge its Gothic appearance.        

On its completion, Tower Bridge was the world's largest and most sophisticated hydraulically operated bridge.  Until 1976 the winding machinery was powered by steam but is now electronically operated.  The bascules, which were also replaced in 1976, each weigh 1,200 tons and have to be counterbalanced with 422 tons of lead and iron.  Taking around 3 - 5 minutes to open, the bridge is 135 feet (40 m) high and 200 feet (60 m) wide when raised.  

Because the Act of 1885 stipulated that the public should have access over Tower Bridge at all times, walkways were built between the towers, 143 feet above the Thames.  These enabled pedestrians to cross the bridge even if the bridge was open for shipping.  However, in 1910 the walkways were closed to the public because of the large number of suicides.

During its first few years Tower Bridge's bascules opened, on average, 22 times a day.  Today they still open at least once a day for large ships or for special and historic occasions.  Advance notice must be given to the Bridge Master before the basules can be raised.  Call 020 7940 3984 to find out when it will next be raised and the name and type of vessel passing beneath.   

After a major renovation of Tower Bridge in 1982 the walkways were glassed in and re-opened as a tourist attraction.  In 1984 a fascinating museum about Tower Bridge opened on the south side of the bridge.  The tour ends in the pump rooms where the old steam engines can still be seen.

Waterloo Bridge
Embankment and Waterloo, London WC2 and SE1

Waterloo Bridge is noted for its superb views over London.  

To the west is the Embankment, leading along the river towards the Houses of Parliament.  To east is the dome of St Pauls, surrounded by the spires and high-rise buildings of the City.  On the South Bank, There are also good views towards the South Bank, where Waterloo Bridge separates the National Theatre and the Royal Festival Hall.

Designed by John Rennie, this was the first of three bridges he built on the Thames in London.  Constructed between 1811 - 16, the new bridge was 27ft wide and 2,346 ft long. The bridge was supported by nine arches faced and decorated by a pair of Doric columns on each pier. 

Originally known as the Strand Bridge, in 1816 it was renamed Waterloo Bridge and officially opened by the Prince Regent on 18 June 1817, the second anniversary of the Duke of Wellington's famous victory.

Waterloo Bridge was purchased by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1878 and freed of tolls, in an ceremony performed by the Prince and Princess of Wales. 

However, the new owners discovered that the foundations were in serious need of repair, the removal of the old London Bridge had increased the tidal scour of the Thames and the foundations of Waterloo Bridge had been undermined.  Each pier was subsequently reinforced between 1882 - 84. 

By 1923 serious settlement was found in the three central piers and attempts were made to pump concrete under the sinking piers but the bridge was closed as unsafe.  Although conservationists wanted the bridge restored, the London County Council considered that the bridge should be replaced and commissioned the architect Sir Gilbert Scot to replace the disused bridge and temporary structure with a new bridge. 

Work began in 1937 but the official foundation stone, cut out of a stone from the old bridge, was not laid until 1939.  With its completion was delayed by World War II, and few men available, most of the work was carried out by female labour.  Waterloo Bridge was the first to be made with reinforced concrete beams.  During its construction the bridge was damaged by enemy action on several occasions -  the only Thames crossing to suffer in this way. 

In 1942 the 'Ladies Bridge' was opened to pedestrians and two lanes of traffic.  The completed bridge was finally opened in 1945.  At 80 ft wide and 1,250 ft long and 80 ft wide, Waterloo Bridge is the longest bridge in London.

Barnes Bridge
Grove Park/Barnes, London W4 and SW13

Barnes Bridge is famous as one of the prominent landmarks at the closing stages of the University Boat Race.

In 1847 an Act of Incorporation allowed the Windsor, Staines and South-Western Railway to build a 7.25 mile line from Barnes to Feltham.  The line's Thames crossing, designed by Joseph Locke and Thomas Brassey, was a three-arch bridge of cast-iron. 

Opened in 1849, this loop line was to prove a useful by-pass for through passenger and freight traffic avoiding the busy route through Richmond.  The increased traffic led to the ridge being strengthened in 1891 - 95, and a footbridge added on the down-stream side, which survives to this day.

 In the past the railway organised special train services which allowed spectators a great view of the boat race from the comfort of a railway. The footbridge was made especially strong to support the crowds on Boat Race day. Today, however the footbridge is closed to pedestrians during the race. 

Blackfriars Bridge
Blackfriars and Southwark, London SE1 and EC4

In 1753 it became obvious that a new bridge was required to make a gateway to the capital.  This would be the third bridge to be built across the Thames in central London, after London Bridge and Westminster Bridge. 

A competition was held in 1759 to find the best design and the winner, Robert Mylne, was appointed to build the bridge in 1760. The bridge had nine elliptical arches, resting on slender, pointed cutwaters and supported by double Ionic columns.

You can see the the designs of this bridge on the walls of the southern pedestrian subway under Blackfriars Bridge. 

Finished in Portland stone, the structure was 995 ft long and 42 ft wide.  At the laying of the foundation stone, the bridge was named Pitt Bridge, after the Tory Prime Minister, but when the bridge was opened in 1769 Pitt was out of favour, and it was renamed Blackfriars Bridge, in honour of the Black Friars who moved their monastery from Holborn to a site near the northern approach road to the bridge in 1274.   

Although maintained, the Portland stone was soon eroded by the polluted saline waters of the Thames and the foundations of the bridge became undermined.  Much of this pollution was caused by the River Fleet, which flowed into the Thames under a large archway near the western end of the bridge.  Over the years it had become an open sewer and it was also a serious health hazard.  Repairs were put in hand but in 1840 these were halted in favour of building a new bridge as soon as possible. 

Mylne's bridge was demolished in 1860 and a temporary bridge erected in its place.  The corporation originally accepted a design by Thomas Page for a three-arch bridge, but at the same time the London Chatham & Dover Railway wanted a railway bridge, and since the railway bridge required five arches, the road bridge had to be amended to five.  After two years Joseph Cubbit, was appointed to design both bridges.  To overcome tidal scour Cubbit sank massive iron caissons into the river clay and half filled them with concrete.  On to these he built up his piers in granite-faced brickwork.  The spans, two each of 155 ft and 175 ft on either side of the 185 ft centre are formed of wrought-iron ribs.

From the cutwaters columns of polished red granite were erected to support pulpit-like bays at pavement level.  These were embellished by the sculptor J B Philip with sculpted birds and flowers in honour the original Black Friars.  On the upstream side these show plants and freshwater birds, while on the downstream side they depict marine vegetation and seagulls.  The low cast-iron balustrade completes the 'Venetian-Gothic' effect.  The bridge is 923 ft long and 70 wide. 

On 6 November 1869 the Queen Victoria opened the new bridge by driving over from the Surrey bank.  She then carried on to inaugurate the newly-completed Holborn Viaduct

Putney Bridge
Fulham/Putney, London SW6 and SW15

Putney Bridge is world-famous as the starting point of the annual Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race.

For hundreds of years there was no bridge between London Bridge and Kingston Bridge and the only way to cross the Thames was by ferry.  Although the ferry owners and City Corporation were firmly opposed, Sir Robert Walpole and his successors successfully petitioned Parliament for a bridge, and in 1726 an Act authorised the construction of a bridge, provided the ferry owners were fully compensated. 

Work began in March 1729 and it was opened in November of the same year.  The curving timber bridge was supported by 26 arches. Toll-houses stood at either end.

The bridge was the subject of one of J W M Turner's famous riverscapes but like all timber structure the bridge needed a considerable maintenance.  When three central sections were damaged by a barge in 1870, there was an ideal opportunity to create a wider central span. 

In 1871 -2 two piers were removed and replaced by a 70 ft iron girder. Putney Bridge was purchased by the Metropolitan Board of Works (MBW) in 1879 and, within a few months, the new owners proposed to construct a new bridge. 

The new structure was built upstream on the site of the former aqueduct. Designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, the present bridge is 700 ft in length and 43 ft wide and constructed from concrete and granite. Work began in 1882 and the bridge was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1886.                    

Putney Railway Bridge
Hurlingham/Putney, London SW6 and SW15

A railway was built to the north end of the present bridge in 1880.  Passengers alighting at the station there could make their way along a footway to a new low-water pier, where there were connections to pleasure steamers.

In 1886 an Act of Parliament authorised the London & South Western Railway (L&SWR) to start building a railway line connecting Putney Bridge Station with Wimbledon. 

Designed by W H Thomas and William Jacomb , the wrought-iron bridge is an eight-span girder structure.  It was never given a name but soon became known as the 'Iron Bridge' by the locals.

The first trains to cross the Thames on the Wimbledon and Putney branch ran on 3 June 1889. 

A footway on the downstream side, with an ornamental cast-iron parapet, was opened the following month. 

The bridge now forms part of the District Line service from Wimbledon via Earl's Court to Edgeware Road and Upminster.                   

Twickenham Bridge
Old Deer Park/St Margaret's, Richmond, and Twickenham

Although first recommended in 1909, Twickenham Bridge was not opened until 1933. 

Twickenham Bridge was part of a major rebuilding and improvement scheme for the Great Chertsey Road.  Chiswick Bridge and Hampton Court Bridge were also part of the plan. 

Twickenham Bridge runs from Chertsey Road, on the Surrey side, through the Old Deer Park to join the road to Richmond.  At the time there was local objection to the construction of the bridge because its approach cut through the Old Deer Park.

Designed by Maxwell Aryton, the bridge has reinforced concrete arches and bronze balustrades and lamps, very similar in design to Chiswick Bridge, but the three river arches of Twickenham Bridge have permanent hinges for self-adjustment. It was the first large concrete bridge in Britain to be built on this principle. 

It was the second of the three new bridges to be opened by the Prince of Wales on 3 July 1933.

Westminster Bridge
Westminster and South Bank, London SE1 and SW1

For centuries London Bridge was the only crossing in central London, the next bridge upstream was many miles away at Kingston. 

The only crossing at this point was by the 'Lambeth Horseferry' but this took a long time and could be risky when the tides were fast.

During the reign of Elizabeth I several attempts were made to pass an Act authorising a bridge at Westminster but the City always objected.  However, in 1734 Charles Labelye, a Swiss engineer submitted his plans and in 1736 the Earl of Pembroke and his followers were granted their Act.  This empowered them to hold a lottery to raise money for the new structure, which became known as the 'Bridge of Fools'. 

The foundation stone for the first pier was laid in 1739 by the Earl of Pembroke. Cast-iron caissons were driven into the river bed by an engine invented by M. Valoue, a Swiss watchmaker. Building work hampered by financial problems and the harsh winters as well as wars in Europe, sabotage by the watermen, accidents and a small earthquake.  Later cracks appeared in the masonry and in 1747 stones from the fifth arch fell into the Thames. 

The Earl of Pembroke died shortly before Westminster Bridge was opened in 1750.  Labelye, worn out by the ten years of work and worries, retired to the South of France, where he died in 1781.  

The bridge was 1,038 feet long and 44 ft wide.The bridge, which tended to sway on its foundations, was never fully trusted.   When the old London Bridge was removed in 1831 the scour of the river upstream undermined the foundations of Westminster Bridge and it became dangerous.  In 1836 James Walker began piecemeal reconstruction of the structure over 10 years to complete and when complete he joined Charles Barry, George Rennie and Thomas Page in submitting designs for a replacement bridge.     

In 1854 work began on a new bridge, the seven-arch wrought-iron bridge is overall 827 ft long and 84 ft wide.  Opened in May 1862, Westminster Bridge is painted predominately green for the Commons benches of the Houses of Parliament, Lambeth Bridge is painted red for the benches of the Lord's. 

It was the construction of Westminster Bridge that started the development of the South Bank.  Westminster Bridge is now the oldest bridge in use in London and, apart from the repair of a few cracked ribs in 1924, it has had needed very little repair since it opened almost 150 years ago.

Battersea Bridge
Chelsea/Battersea, London SW3 and SW11

In 1766 an Act of Parliament was passed authorising Earl Spencer to construct a bridge across the Thames at Battersea.  

The earl, who operated a ferry here, could not raise sufficient funds to span the river with stone and as a result the bridge was build with timber.  The bridge had 19 spans and was built in 1771 - 72, but was extremely unpopular because its narrow spans made navigation very difficult.  River traffic often collided with the bridge and many people were drowned.  

In 1795 four of the spans were made into two by inserting iron girder sections.  The piers and wooden railings along the roadway had to be repaired so frequently that soon little of the original fabric remained.  Between 1821 - 24 the wooden fences were replaced by 4 ft-high iron railings. 

The timber bridge was the subject of a series of paintings by James Whistler.

The opening of the Victoria Bridge in 1858 brought a drop in revenue for Battersea tollbridge and when the bridge was purchased by the Metropolitan Board of Works, they found it in need of replacement. 

The Board's engineer, Sir Joseph Bazalgette, designed a new five-span bridge.  After a temporary bridge was completed in 1885, work on the new bridge in 1886.   The wrought-iron and steel cantilever bridge has five segmental spans.  With two footpaths, the bridge has a total width of 55 ft. 

Hammersmith Bridge
Hammersmith, London SW13 and W6

The elegant, green-painted Hammersmith Bridge is an important landmark in the University Boat Race.  Today, however the bridge is closed to pedestrians during the race.

In 1824 an Act of Parliament authorised the building of Hammersmith Bridge and the foundation stone was laid by the Duke of Sussex the following year. 

Designed by William Tierney Clarke, this was the first suspension bridge to span the Thames.  Tierney Clark, a resident of Hammersmith, is buried in the parish church and his memorial stone bears the outline of the original Hammersmith Bridge. 

Opened in 1827, the stone bridge had two brick piers, above which stood two towers with arched entrances in Tuscan style.  Eight chains were strung from these towers to hold the bridge in place.  The timber deck gave a carriageway of 20 ft and two 5 ft pavements, all narrowing to pass under the arches.  Octagonal toll houses were built at either end to control traffic flow on the bridge.

By the 1870s Hammersmith Bridge was not strong enough to support the weight of the heavy traffic and the owners were alarmed in 1870 when 11,000 - 12,000 people crowded onto the bridge to watch the University Boat Race.  In 1884 a temporary bridge was put across the river and and work started on a new bridge. 

Designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, the elaborate new suspension bridge was opened in 1887. The wrought-iron framework on the towers and cross-beams was clad in ornamental cast-iron casings to give the appearance of arches.  The bridge is 700 ft long and 43 ft wide and carries a 27 ft-wide carriageway.

Bazalgette's bridge is still in use today but in recent years it has been strengthened. In June 2000 Hammersmith Bridge was the target of a terrorist bomb attack, and after repairs the bridge was re-opened subject to a 7.5 tonne weight limit and with a priority measure in place for buses. 

At night Hammersmith Bridge looks stunning, the result of a new lighting scheme which was installed in 1999/2000.          

Lambeth Bridge
Westminster and Lambeth, London SW1 and SE1

Lambeth Bridge stands on the site on an ancient landing stage that was in use as far back as the 13th century.  This landing stage was used to receive the monarch on state occasions and was also the meeting place of Henry VIII and Cranmer and Elizabeth I and Archbishop Parker.

Today Lambeth Bridge is approached from the north by Horseferry Road, a reminder that this was a river crossing before the construction of Lambeth Bridge.  The dangerous horse-ferry, which operated between Lambeth and Millbank, was under the control of the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose London residence is at Lambeth Palace.  After Westminster Bridge was completed in 1750 the Archbishop surrendered his lease but received compensation for loss of revenue.

As the population of Lambeth grew, there was a need for a new bridge to serve the locality.  Although an Act was passed in 1809 authorising a bridge at Lambeth, insufficient funds to build the structure meant that the bill eventually lapsed.  

In 1860 the Lambeth Bridge company finally succeeding in obtaining another Act and sufficient funds to build a bridge.  Designed by P.W. Barlow and opened in 1862, the new suspension bridge from Church Street, Lambeth, to Market Street, later renamed Horseferry Road in Westminster, had three massive iron arches. 

The bridge originally charged a toll but in 1879 these were abolished.  By this time the bridge had rusted and had become unsafe and in 1887 major repairs had to be carried out.  The decision to rebuild the bridge was taken five years later but nothing was done and in 1905 a weight restriction was imposed on vehicles , while gates were erected at either end to regulate the number of pedestrians.  A few years later the bridge was forbidden to vehicles altogether. 

After a temporary footbridge was put across the river, work finally started on the new bridge in 1929.  The new five-span bridge, designed by George Humphreys, was made of steel and reinforced concrete, with polished granite facings.

Lambeth Bridge is 60 ft wide and 776 ft long, with a central span of 165 ft.

Originally, decoration was confined to the parapets and lamp standards, but to mark the opening of the bridge by King George V and Queen Mary in 1932, lattice-work pylons were added at either end.  These obelisks are topped with pineapples, symbols of friendship and hospitality.

To celebrate its proximity to the Houses of Parliament, Lambeth Bridge is painted predominately red for the Lord's benches, Westminster Bridge is painted green for the Common's benches.

Southwark Bridge
The City and Southwark, London SE1 and EC4

As the population of London grow during the Industrial Revolution it soon became apparent that a new bridge was needed over the Thames. 

The Southwark Bridge Company, founded in 1813, commissioned John Rennie to designed the new bridge, to be built 300 yards from the ancient riverside harbour of Queenhithe. 

The new cast-iron bridge, with three flat arches, was given approval, even though the Corporation of London and Thames Conservators had objected to its construction as the Corporation disliked the idea of a private tollbridge, while the Conservators believed that building it would be hazardous to navigation. 

To solve the problem of navigation the design included one of the largest cast-iron arches ever built. 

Southwark Bridge opened in 1819 but, with inadequate approaches, a humped roadway and was a toll the crossing proved unpopular and was little used.

When Southwark Bridge was freed of tolls in 1864 it soon began to take its share of traffic.  However, by the end of the 19th century the structure was considered too narrow to cope with the increased volume of traffic and the decision was made to replace it. 

In 1913 the demolition work started on the old bridge, but due to World War I it was not completed until 1921. The new bridge has five steel arches supported by turreted piers.  Its five spans, two each of 123 ft and 131 ft on either of a 140 ft arch, were designed so that the river piers line up with those of Blackfriars Bridge and London Bridge. 

The unusual pierced turrets which give the bridge its somewhat old-fashioned appearance were designed by Sir Ernest George RA.  At night it is lit by distinctive lamp standards, each bearing three lamps.

Vauxhall Bridge
Vauxhall and Kennington, London SW1 and SE1

In 1809 an Act of Parliament authorised one more bridge, and Vauxhall Bridge was conceived as part of a great new thoroughfare from Hyde Park Corner to Greenwich.  

In 1811 the foundation stone was laid by Lord Thomas Dundas, standing in for the Prince Regent. Originally named Regent's Bridge, the name Vauxhall Bridge was restored during construction.  Designed by the engineer James Walker, this was the first iron bridge to span the Thames. 

The nine-arched cast-iron structure stood in deeply embedded stone, faced with granite, 809 ft and 36 ft wide.  Tolls were charged after the bridge opened in 1816 but in 1879 these were abolished. 

Tidal scour had made the piers in a dangerous condition.  Repairs to the bridge were too expensive but the construction of a new bridge was delayed. A temporary wooden bridge was thrown out across the river and demolition work began in 1898.  

However, work on the new structure did not begin until 1904.  The present bridge five-arch steel bridge was designed by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice.  The five spans make up a crossing of 809 ft, with a width of 80 ft. 

Vauxhall Bridge was opened in 1906 by the Prince of Wales (later George V).  The bridge was the first in London to carry trams.  

Vauxhall Bridge is unique in having its piers decorated by heroic-sized bronze statues. 

Sculpted by Frederick Pomeroy and Alfred Drury, these female figures represent the Arts and Sciences.  The figures facing downstream, towards Westminster, represent Local Government, ducation, the Fine Arts, and Astronomy.  Facing upstream away from London are figures representing Agriculture, holding a scythe, Architecture, holding a model of St Paul's Cathedral, Engineering, holding an engine and Pottery, holding a vase.

Battersea Railway Bridge
Chelsea/Battersea, London SW10 and SW11

Opened in 1863, the five-arched Battersea Railway Bridge carries London's only north-south through-route. 

The bridge was part of the West London Extension Railway, connecting the main lines radiating to the north, out of Paddington and Euston, with lines running south from Waterloo, Victoria and Clapham Junction.

To cross the 706 ft wide river the construction company built a 1,270 ft viaduct. The track was not only laid for standard gauge, but also the GWR's broad gauge. 

Its opening led to a significant increase in freight traffic but passenger services did not commence until 1904. In 1979 long distance passenger services resumed with daily return Manchester - Brighton Inter-City services.  These trains also serve the increasingly busy Gatwick Airport.  

A major problem with Battersea Railway Bridge is that trains crossing it are restricted to 15 miles per hour.  This gives the bridge the distinction of being the slowest railway crossing on the Thames.

Chelsea Bridge
Chelsea/Battersea, London SW1 and SW8

Following the construction of Westminster Bridge in 1750, the population of the city grew eastwards and westwards along both banks of the river. 

In the 19th century the suburbs of Fulham, in the north, and Battersea, in the south, had expanding populations.

Work began on the suspension bridge in 1851 to the designs of the engineer, Thomas Page.  The ornate bridge had pairs of domed toll houses, encrusted with Gothic-syle decoration, at each end.  In 1879 Chelsea Bridge became toll-free. 

Although never formally named, the bridge was known as the Victoria for some years after its opening in 1858.  The change of name coincided with fears over the bridge's safety, and in 1880 the bridge was strengthened with additional chain, but only 40 years later it was recommended that the bridge should be completely replaced. 

Demolition work in 1935, the new suspension bridge was given stronger foundations, set inside granite bored into the riverbed.  The six-lane roadway of Chelsea Suspension Bridge is suspended using 37 galvanised steel wires. The bridge is embellished with lampstands decorated with golden galleons. 

Because the construction work used Douglas Fir from British Colombia in Canada, the Prime Minister of Canada, W.L Mackenzie King, opened the bridge in 1937.

London Bridge
The City and London Bridge, London EC4 and SE1

These is no written record of a bridge here until about AD 984, but excavations in 1981 uncovered what may have been the foundations of one of the piers of a Roman bridge. 

The wooden bridge was a barrier against the Danes who regularly sailed up the Thames to fight the Anglo-Saxons.  Nevertheless, in 1014 the Danish King Olav managed to sail right up to the bridge and destroyed the piles supporting the bridge, and the bridge and the defenders collapsed into the Thames. This is believed to be the origin of the nursery rhyme 'London Bridge is falling down'. 

The bridge was rebuilt of wood over the years and used as the main defence against invaders. The last timber bridge was built in 1163. 

Work on a new stone bridge started in 1176 and took 33 years to complete. It was 926 ft long and 40 ft wide and was supported by 20 arches with a drawbridge.  For 600 years, until Westminster Bridge was built in 1750, this was the only bridge in the city.

The drawbridge was set in the seventh span from the Southwark side and was protected on the capital's side by a gatehouse known as the Drawbridge Tower.  The tower served as the place of exhibition for the severed heads of people executed at the Tower of London.  The display of heads was later transferred to the Southwark Gate, complete with portcullis, on the second pier from the Southwark side.   This gate was the main bastion of the bridge and the city's southern defences.      

Over the years many houses and shops were built on London Bridge.  This was seen as a way of raising revenue for the upkeep of the bridge.  The buildings projected over both sides of the bridge, and one of the first buildings was the Chapel of St Thomas à Becket.

During the reign of Elizabeth I the bridge was restored and many new buildings were added, including a water-mill at the northern end of the bridge. Following fires and the Great Fire of 1666, by the middle of the 18th century the bridge and its buildings were in poor condition and the buildings were removed for both health and safety reasons.  

In 1823 Parliament approved John Rennie's design for a new London Bridge. The foundation stone was laid by the Lord Mayor of London in 1825 and opened by King William and Queen Adelaide in 1831.  The new bridge was over 1,005 ft long and 56 ft wide.

The bridge lasted 140 years but it was too narrow and too weak to cope with the traffic.  In 1967 work began on demolishing the old bridge, and the new bridge was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973. The bridge has a 105 ft wide roadway with room for 6 traffic lanes and two footpaths.To prevent icing in freezing conditions, a heating system was built below the surface of the roadway and pavements.

The old London Bridge was sold and shipped out in sections to Lake Havasu City in Arizona, USA.  Lake Havasu is an artificial stretch of water. Today, it is the focal point of annual London Bridge days held in early October, with the people of Havasu dressing up as Elizabethans, archery contests, pancake races, and square dancing.

In 1984 the Royal Navy warship HMS Jupiter hit London Bridge broadside.  The ship suffered considerable damage to her superstructure and the granite parapet of London Bridge was dislodged.

Now and then London Bridge still witnesses the traditional walking of a flock of sheep into the City - a right of all who are Freemen of the City of London.

Richmond Bridge
Twickenham and Richmond

This is the oldest Thames bridge in Greater London. 

Before Richmond Bridge opened in 1777, a ferry owned by the Crown operated at this point on the river.  Henry VIII and his daughters Mary I and Elizabeth I spent a good deal of time at Richmond Palace. There were two boats, one for passengers and another, for horses, small carts and goods.  Carriages were too heavy and had to travel upstream and cross at Kingston Bridge.

In 1760 William Windham, the ferry lessee, petitioned Parliament for a Bill.  However, there were strong objections, the inhabitants of Richmond did not like the idea of a wooden bridge and they did not want a privately owned toll bridge.  Although the idea of a stone bridge was accepted the bridge was built the proposed site, on the line of the ferry.

Designed by the architects James Paine and Kenton Couse, the bridge was built in 1774 - 77.  The bridge had gates and at each end were lodges for the toll-collectors.Tolls were removed eventually and the gates were taken down, the lodges survived for another 50 years.    

Richmond Bridge has 13 arches.  The five river arches are made of stone while three arches on the Surrey side and a causeway on the Middlesex side are made of brick.  On the Surrey side the interior parts of the brick arches have been converted for private use. 

Richmond Bridge was transferred to the counties of Surrey and Middlesex in 1927.  In 1937 - 39 the bridge was widened on the upstream side.  Each stone was removed, numbered and replaced after the piers and cutwaters had been extended.  The new work can still be seen on the undersides of the arches.      

Wandsworth Bridge
Hurlingham/Wandsworth, London SW6 and SW18

Although authorised in 1864, the bridge was finally built in 1873.  Designed by Julian Tolmne, the wrought-iron structure was of the lattice girder type, with a timber roadway.

When it opened a toll was charged but this was abolished in 1880. By this time the bridge had been purchased by the Metropolitan Board of Works.  The new owners decided that the bridge should be replaced.  In 1935 London County Council (LCC) finally gave their consent for a new bridge.   A temporary bridge, used during the widening of Chelsea Bridge, was erected alongside the old one.

Designed by Sir Peirson Frank, the new bridge has a 200 ft central span, consisting of seven high-tensile steel girders. After some delay the new bridge opened in 1940.