This is claimed as the oldest standing 'London' bridge. It was authorised by an Act of July 1773. and replaced a ferry at this point. The Commissioners appointed under the act to supervise its construction, included Launcelot 'Capability' Brown (also associated with Kingston bridge). It was built by James Paine who also built bridges at Kew and Walton. The foundation stone was laid 23/08/1774; it was opened to pedestrians in 1776 and to all traffic 12/01/1777; and finally completed December 1777. A feature of its construction was that it was financed by use of tontines. This was a mechanism invented by Lorenzo Tontine whereby there is an issue of shares to the sum required and the shareholders receive interest for life. When a shareholders dies the interest of that share is divided between the survivors. In this instance 2 tontines were issued, the one for £20,000 and the other for £5,000. The last survivor for the former died aged 86 on 03/03/1859, having received £800 p.a. for some years, and for the other the last survivor died 08/01/1865. The bridge was freed of tolls on 25/03/1859. In 1937 the bridge was widened (extending downstream) but the form and facings were retained with great care.

The bridge joins Bridge Street, Richmond with St Margarets Road, Twickenham.

O/S Co-ords:1770.7452
Source(s):

Thames Crossings. Bridges, Tunnels and Ferries

Kew Past

Richmond Heritage Walks 1. An Introduction

Rural Walks around Richmond