The initial construction of the first bridge here, from Vauxhall Bridge Road to Bridge Foot on the Albert Embankment, was a stuttering, start-stop sequence. This contrasted with its inception as part of a grand plan for a fine thoroughfare from Hyde Park Corner over the bridge to Kennington and thence to Greenwich, somewhat like London Transport's underground Jubilee line extension of the 1990's. It was with a view to the grand plan that a parliamentary Act authorised the bridge in 1809. But the act contained provisions for the financing of the construction that caused problems. The first works were started, in May 1811, to plans by John Rennie (1761-1821) for a stone bridge. When the financial constraints started to bite the decision was taken to build an iron bridge and, after new plans from Rennie had been declined by the promoters, they approved those of Sir Samuel Bentham and a Mr J. Grellier was contracted to build to those. He started, using materials from Rennie's works, but the Thames Conservators, on the advice of a James Walker, found the methods employed to be inadequate. So, finally, it was a bridge to Walker's designs and constructed under his supervision that was opened 04/06/1816. So the first iron bridge across the Thames in London started in business but the fine highway did not materialise and the tolls for some years did not turn much of a profit for the promoters. Apart from the bridge building those promoters had had to find funds to compensate the ferry men, improve what was then Upper Kennington Lane (the Albert Embankment did not exist), and construct Vauxhall Bridge Road which required the acquisition of property. The total costs were nearly £300,000.
In 1879 this bridge was taken over by the Metropolitan Board of Works (MBW) to be made toll free, as were all the existing road bridges across the Thames within the Board's remit which ran from Putney to Plumstead. They paid compensation of £250,000. Their major problem in maintaining the bridge was that the river current scoured the river bed around the foundations of the piers. This scouring action was increased by the Board's good works in building the embankments which reclaimed the mud banks exposed at low tide and narrowed the channel. The London County Council, which took over the MBW's responsibilities, had to build a replacement which was done to the designs of their engineers led by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice. This construction was started in 1898 and the bridge opened with its new approaches in 1906. A feature of its austere appearance is the placing on each cutwater of a bronze statue These are the work of Alfred Drury and F.W. Pomeroy. The subjects they represent might be considered exemplary as a committee's selection of worthy human endeavours: local government; education; science; fine arts; pottery; engineering; agriculture; and architecture.

O/S Co-ords:3014.7817
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Thames Crossings. Bridges, Tunnels and Ferries