Kingston Bridge, London

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Coordinates: 51°24′40″N, 0°18′32″W

Kingston Bridge
Kingston Bridge
Kingston Bridge from upstream at Kingston
Carries A308 road
Crosses River Thames
Locale Kingston upon Thames
Designer Lapidge
Design Arch
Material Stone
Number of spans 5
Piers in water 4
Longest span 60'
Total length 382'
Height 19'
AADT 50,000 vehicles
Opening date 17 July 1828
Toll Abolished 1870
Coordinates 51°24′40″N, 0°18′32″W
A view of Kingston Bridge published in 1831. It has been widened twice since then.
A view of Kingston Bridge published in 1831. It has been widened twice since then.

Kingston Bridge is a road bridge at Kingston upon Thames in London, England, carrying the A308 across the River Thames. It joins the town centre of Kingston 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 reach above Teddington Lock and close to and downstream of the mouth of the Hogsmill River, a minor tributary of the Thames. It is on the route of the Thames Path.

Contents

[edit] History

There is evidence that a wooden bridge has existed at Kingston since the 13th century. Until a wooden bridge was built at Putney in 1729, Kingston Bridge was the only bridge on the Thames between London Bridge and Staines Bridge. This contributed greatly to Kingston's success as a medieval market town.

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 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

[edit] References

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

[edit] Location


Next crossing upstream River Thames Next crossing downstream
Hampton Court Bridge (road) Kingston Bridge, London
Grid reference: TQ177693
Kingston Railway Bridge (rail)
Next crossing upstream Thames Path Next crossing downstream
northern bank
Hampton Court Bridge
Kingston Bridge, London southern bank
Teddington Lock
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