A bridge here was proposed in 1909 but it was authorised by parliament in the Act for the Great Chertsey Road scheme passed in 1928. The necessary flexibility in the bridge's structure is provided, in part, by springiness in the supports. They are filled with bitumen coated, compressed cork. The bridge as part of the Great Chertsey Road, along with Chiswick bridge, was opened by the then Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII and then Duke of Windsor) on 03/07/1933.

O/S Co-ords:1720.7482
Source(s):

Rural Walks around Richmond

Thames Crossings. Bridges, Tunnels and Ferries

Kew Past

Richmond Heritage Walks 1. An Introduction