Wandsworth Bridge

Coordinates: Coordinates: Longitude could not be parsed as a number:0.18806‎
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Wandsworth Bridge
CoordinatesCoordinates: Longitude could not be parsed as a number:0.18806‎
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CarriesMotor vehicles
CrossesRiver Thames
LocaleLondon, England
Characteristics
DesignCantilever bridge
MaterialSteel
Total length650 feet (200 m)
Width60 feet (18 m)
No. of spans3
History
DesignerPeirson Frank
Opened1940
Statistics
Daily traffic50,000 vehicles
Location
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Wandsworth Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames in west London. It carries the A217 road between the areas of Battersea, near Wandsworth Town Station, in the London Borough of Wandsworth, on the south of the river, and the areas of Sands End and Parsons Green, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, on the north side. Built between 1937–1940, it replaced an earlier bridge on the same site dating from 1873.

The present bridge is an unadorned steel cantilever bridge. Although it is one of the busiest bridges in London, carrying approximately 50,000 vehicles daily, it has been described as "probably the least noteworthy bridge in London".[1]

Background

Although on opposite sides of the river, Fulham on the north bank of the River Thames and Wandsworth on the south bank were geographically isolated from each other, with the nearest crossing points being Putney Bridge to the west and Battersea Bridge to the east, both over a mile away from Wandsworth. The fast flowing but narrow River Wandle at Wandsworth was well-situated for driving watermills, leading to the rapid spread of industry in the area in the 19th century.[2] While nearby Battersea Railway Bridge had opened in 1863,[3] as the population of the area grew and the built-up area of London expanded into the area in the 19th century, pressure grew from local residents and businesses for a bridge to be built.[4]

In 1864, it was expected that the newly formed Hammersmith and City Railway would build its western terminus on the north bank of the river between Chelsea and Fulham.[4] In 1864, in anticipation of the new railway line generating high demand for a river crossing, an Act of Parliament was passed granting permission to the Wandsworth Bridge Company to build a bridge, to be financed by tolls,[4] with the proviso that the bridge would be at least 40 feet (12 m) wide and cross the river with no more than three spans.[5] Rowland Mason Ordish designed a suspension bridge to comply with the Act's specifications, of a similar design to his nearby Albert Bridge, also authorised in 1864.[4]

1873 bridge

The first Wandsworth Bridge

The company proved unable to finance the building of Ordish's design,[4] and in 1870 a new Act of Parliament was passed giving the company permission to build a bridge 30 feet (9.1 m) wide, crossing the river with five spans.[5] Ordish was asked to design a cheaper bridge to the new specifications but refused to change the design, so Julian Tolmé was appointed designer in his place.[4] Tolmé designed a starkly functional lattice truss bridge of wrought iron.[4] It cost £40,000 (about £4,477,000 as of 2024) to build,[5][6] and consisted of five identical spans, supported by four pairs of concrete-filled iron piers;[7] each of the cylindrical piers was sunk 14 feet (4.3 m) into the riverbed.[5] The bridge was due to open in early 1873, but the workmen engaged in construction went on strike, and a third Act of Parliament was necessary to give the company time to resolve the dispute and complete the bridge.[5] The Illustrated London News remarked at the time of the bridge's opening that "No attempt has been made to produce architectural effect, the structure being substantial rather than ornamental".[8] A 1⁄2d toll was charged on pedestrians crossing the bridge.[9]

In 1867 the formerly independent Hammersmith and City Railway was absorbed by the Metropolitan Railway and the Great Western Railway, and was worked from then on by Metropolitan Railway trains. The plan for a terminus in Fulham was abandoned, with the line instead turning west at Hammersmith to run over London and South Western Railway tracks to Richmond.[10] Although Wandsworth Town railway station, near the southern end of the bridge, had provided direct connections to central London since 1846,[11] the lack of rail connections opening on the north bank meant the area on the Fulham side remained undeveloped, and bridge usage was low. Tolmé's design was not sturdy enough to carry heavy vehicles, while poorly maintained approach roads further discouraged use of the bridge.[7]

Public ownership

The ceremonies to mark the lifting of tolls at Wandsworth, Putney and Hammersmith Bridges, 1880[12]

The bridge never raised enough toll revenue to cover the costs of repairs and maintenance. In 1877 the Metropolis Toll Bridges Act was passed, and in 1880 Wandsworth Bridge, along with other London bridges, was taken into the public ownership of the Metropolitan Board of Works.[7] Despite its having run at a loss throughout its lifetime, the Board of Works paid £53,313 (about £6,339,000 as of 2024) for the bridge,[9][6] a substantial increase on its £40,000 construction cost. On 26 June 1880 the Prince and Princess of Wales presided over a ceremony abolishing tolls over the three bridges.[7]

By the time it was taken into public ownership, the bridge was in very poor condition. In 1891 a weight limit of 5 tons was introduced, and in 1897 a 10 mph (16 km/h) speed limit was imposed. With the restrictions and the narrowness of the bridge, by this point it was effectively a footbridge.[7] In 1926 a Royal Commission recommended its replacement and the London County Council agreed to finance a new bridge on the site. However, in 1928 it was decided to give priority to widening the much busier Putney Bridge, and the replacement of Wandsworth Bridge was delayed.

1940 bridge

In 1935, the Ministry of Transport agreed to finance 60% of the projected £503,000 (about £44,000,000 as of 2024) cost of a replacement bridge,[6][13] and the London County Council approved a new design,[7] by Sir Pierson Frank, for a three-span steel cantilever bridge 60 feet (18 m) in width, allowing two lanes of traffic in each direction, and designed to allow widening to 80 feet (24 m) if necessary.[7] The design featured distinctive low curves, intended to reflect the low riverbanks in the area.[14] Pierson's design is starkly simple, painted in two shades of pale blue to match the river and sky.[14] The design was presented to the Royal Fine Art Commission for approval, with a covering note stating that "in the design of the bridge a severe simplicity of treatment has been carried out, expressed in a technique essentially related to the material proposed for its construction". Although the Commission expressed concern that the bridge may have proved too narrow, the design was approved.[15] The work was put out for tender, with a stipulation that all materials used in the construction of the new bridge should be of British origin or manufacture.[15]

The current Wandsworth Bridge

The contract for the new bridge was awarded to Messrs Holloway Bros (London), and work began in 1937.[15] A temporary footbridge that had been used during the redevelopment of Chelsea Bridge between 1935 and 1937 was re-erected alongside Wandsworth Bridge, and the existing bridge demolished. The new bridge was expected to be complete in 1939; however, a shortage of steel in the build up to the Second World War delayed the bridge's opening until 25 September 1940.[14]

Wandsworth Bridge today

Historically, the southern approach roads to the bridge had been in poor condition and confusing to use. In 1969 the Greater London Council built the A214 road, a three-lane dual carriageway linking the southern end of the bridge to Tooting.[14] At the immediate southern end of the bridge is a large roundabout adjacent to Wandsworth Town railway station, where Bridgend Road (A217), York Road (A3205), Swandon Way (A217) and Trinity Road (A214) meet. The roundabout is a noted example of 1960s modernist design,[16] and served as the setting for parts of A Clockwork Orange in 1971.[14][16] Wandsworth Bridge is now one of the busiest bridges in London, carrying over 50,000 vehicles daily.[15] In 2007 approval was granted for a series of 40-foot (12 m) glass cone-shaped "flames", which will change colour with the tides, to be added to the bridge, designed by architect Steven Lenczner.[1] The "flames" will be raised above the sightlines of drivers using the bridge, to avoid causing a distraction.[17]

Notes and references

Notes
  1. ^ a b Westbrook, Andrew (2007-07-02), "Bright idea to make a landmark of Wandsworth Bridge", Wimbledon Guardian, London, retrieved 2009-04-30
  2. ^ Cookson 2006, p. 111
  3. ^ Cookson 2006, p. 116
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Matthews 2008, p. 60
  5. ^ a b c d e Cookson 2006, p. 112
  6. ^ a b c UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Matthews 2008, p. 61
  8. ^ Illustrated London News, 1873-09-26, quoted Matthews 2008 p. 61
  9. ^ a b "The Freeing of the Bridges", The Times, p. 12, 1880-06-28 {{citation}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  10. ^ Demuth 2003, p. 6
  11. ^ Hornby 2000, p. 84
  12. ^ Clockwise from the top, the images show: the address being read at the opening of Wandsworth Bridge; a race to be the first man across Putney Bridge; the old toll gates from Putney Bridge being thrown into the river; the Prince and Princess of Wales leaving Hammersmith bridge; the bridge-keeper's daughter with the Princess of Wales at Putney Bridge.
  13. ^ Cookson 2006, p. 113
  14. ^ a b c d e Matthews 2008, p. 62
  15. ^ a b c d Cookson 2006, p. 114
  16. ^ a b "Fast Forward: The loafer's guide to popular culture", The Observer, London, 2000-02-13, retrieved 2009-04-30
  17. ^ Barney, Katherine (2007-06-26), "Wandsworth Bridge set to go up in 'flames'", Evening Standard, London, retrieved 2009-04-30
Bibliography

Further reading

  • Cross River Traffic: A history of London's Bridges, Chris Roberts, Granta 2006 ISBN 1-86207-884-X, ISBN 978-1-86207-884-0
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