Kingston Bridge, London

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A view of Kingston Bridge published in 1831. It has been widened twice since then.

Kingston Bridge crosses the River Thames in London, England in an East to West direction. It is close to and downstream of the mouth of the Hogsmill River, a minor tributary.

Kingston Bridge joins the town centre of Kingston upon Thames, in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, to Hampton Court Park, Bushy Park, and the village of Hampton Wick in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. As of 2005, it carries approximately 50,000 vehicles per day with up to 2,000 vehicles per hour in each direction during peak times.

Kingston Bridge is on the A308 route.

[edit] History

Kingston Bridge was the first crossing on the Thames upstream from London Bridge, until a wooden bridge was built at Putney in 1729. This contributed greatly to Kingston's success as a medieval market town. Early bridges at the site were wood and existed from the 13th century.

The first masonry bridge was built in 1828. It was built of Portland stone, and consisted of five elliptical arches, the centre arch being a 60 feet span by 19 in height, and the side arches 56 and 52 feet spans respectively. The abutments were terminated by towers or bastions, and the whole surmounted by a cornice and balustrade, with galleries projecting over the pier; which gave a bold relief to the general elevation. The length of the bridge was 382 feet by 27 feet in width. It was of chaste Grecian architecture, from the design of Mr. Lapidge. The building contract was undertaken by Mr. Herbert for £26,800. and the extra work has not exceeded £100, a very rare, if not an unprecedented occurrence in either public or private undertakings of this description.

The bridge as it stands today.

The first stone was laid by the Earl of Liverpool, November 7, 1825, and the bridge was opened in due form by her royal highness the Duchess of Clarence, on July 17, 1828.

It became free from tolls in 1870 [1] and ended 650 years of charges! Celebrations including a fireworks show were followed a few days later with the burning of the toll-gates on Hampton Green. It was widened in 1914, with a facade of Portland stone designed to replicate the features of the original. The bridge was widened again in 2000 to also include two bicycle lanes, larger pavements and a bus lane.

[edit] See also

• Crossings of the River Thames

[edit] References

• Kingston New Bridge, in The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume XII., No. 324, July 26, 1828

[edit] Location

• Wikimapia