In this morning’s route order:
1. Richmond bridge looking looking south-west (see Post 67 for more)
2. Footbridge in Twickenham from York Gardens on the left to Thames north riverside
Sir Ratan Tata, (who you may recall bought the naked ladies from the Duc d’Orleans in 1906), removed the previous so-called rustic footbridge over Riverside, and replaced it with the present stone footbridge above, in a slightly different location.
3. Footbridge over the northern fork of the Thames between Twickenham and Eel Pie Island
A bridge was first proposed to Middlesex County Council in 1889. In the early 20th Century they got as far as a set of rope pulleys to help with the transport of light goods across the river. In 1957 they got around to building a bridge to the ait.
4. The western suspension bridge crosses the weir stream and links the island to Teddington
Teddington Lock Footbridge comprises of two separate bridges, (numbers 4 and 5), across the Thames, built between 1887 and 1889 and funded by donations from local residents and businesses. They replaced a ferry which gave its name to Teddington’s Ferry Road. A small island sits between them.
5. The eastern iron girder bridge crosses the lock cut and links the island to Ham on the Surrey bank
6. Kingston railway bridge, looking west
The bridge was built as part of the construction of Kingston railway station in 1863. Attached to it is the sewage main, (not visible here), from Hampton Wick
7. Kingston road bridge, looking west
Built in 1828 the bridge spans the Thames about 300 metres upriver from the railway bridge. By 2005 it was carrying roughly 50,000 vehicles a day, with up to 2,000 an hour in each direction at peak times. Some sources say the first Kingston Bridge was constructed in the 1190s, which chimes with being one of the two goals - the nearby Clattern Bridge over the Hogsmill River upstream being the other - in a centuries old annual game of “football” that took place in the town. See Post 100 for more.
8. Thames Ditton Island suspension footbridge
Completed in 1914, it links the island with Thames Ditton on the Surrey bank of the Thames. It is open exclusively for use by residents of the island, which is about 320 metres in length and has 48 houses on it. This photograph is looking N.E. from Thames Ditton across to the island.
9. Hampton Court Bridge, looking south-west (see Post 21 for more)
Red arrows: Bridges One to Nine
Comentários