The Dowager Princess of Wales (once Augusta of Saxe Gotha then widow of Frederick, eldest son of George II) and her 21-year-old son used the new bridge on this date. For this privilege she paid the owner, Robert Tunstall, £200 and his workmen £40. The bridge was opened to the public 3 days later. The following year the son, whilst crossing the bridge on his way to London, was informed of his accession as George III. He returned to his home in Kew to seek the advice of his mentor and mother's friend, John Stuart, 3 rd Earl of Bute. That bridge was a somewhat rickety timber structure. It was replaced by a stone bridge which George III opened 22/09/1789 when leading a 'great concourse of carriages' he drove over the new bridge and on to a banquet at the Star and Garter hotel on Richmond hill

O/S Co-ords:1900.7781
Source(s):

Thames Crossings. Bridges, Tunnels and Ferries

O/S Co-ords:1900.7781
Source(s):

Thames Crossings. Bridges, Tunnels and Ferries

It was opened by Edward VII and is officially called Edward VII bridge but never known as that.

O/S Co-ords:1900.7781
Source(s):

Thames Crossings. Bridges, Tunnels and Ferries