View source for Kingston Bridge, London

{{about|the road bridge in Kingston upon Thames|the railway bridge|Kingston Railway Bridge}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}

{{Infobox bridge
|bridge_name=Kingston Bridge
|image=File:Kingston Bridge, London.jpg
|image_size = 280
|caption=Kingston Bridge from downstream at Kingston
|official_name=
|carries=[[A308 road]], [[Thames Path]]
|crosses=[[River Thames]]
|locale= [[Kingston upon Thames]]
|maint=[[Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council]]
|id=
|designer =[[Edward Lapidge]]
|design= Arch
|material = Stone
|spans = 5
|pierswater = 4
|mainspan= {{convert|60|ft|0|in|m}}
|length= {{convert|382|ft|0|in|m}}
|width= {{convert|79|ft|0|in|m}}
|height= {{convert|23|ft|11|in|m}}<ref>River Thames Alliance. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080124114502/http://www.visitthames.co.uk/text.asp?PageId=320 Bridge heights on the River Thames.]</ref>
|clearance=
|below= 
|traffic= 50,000 vehicles
|open= 17 July 1828
|closed=
|toll= Abolished 1870
|map_cue=
|map_image=
|map_text=
|map_width=
|coordinates= {{coord|51|24|40|N|0|18|32|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| embedded={{infobox designation list
| embed=yes
| designation1 = Grade II*
| designation1_offname =Kingston Bridge
| designation1_date = 30 July 1951
| designation1_number = 1300232
}}
}}

'''Kingston Bridge''' is a road bridge at [[Kingston upon Thames]] in south west [[London]], England, carrying the [[A308 road|A308]] across the [[River Thames]]. It joins the town centre of [[Kingston upon Thames|Kingston]] in the [[Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames]] to [[Hampton Court Park]], [[Bushy Park]], and the village of [[Hampton Wick]] in the [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]. In 2005 it was carrying approximately 50,000 vehicles per day with up to 2,000 vehicles per hour in each direction during peak times.

For several centuries, Kingston bridge was the only crossing of the River Thames other than [[London Bridge]] within the modern [[Greater London]] boundary.

Kingston Bridge is on the reach above [[Teddington Lock]] and close to and downstream of the mouth of the [[Hogsmill]] River, a minor tributary of the Thames. The [[Thames Path]] crosses the river here and the bridge is the end point for the [[Thames Down Link]] long-distance footpath from [[Box Hill & Westhumble railway station|Box Hill & Westhumble station]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspublications.nsf/f2d920e015d1183d80256c670041a50b/359f0ef32e86608b80257212004640cd/$FILE/TDLroute.pdf |title = Thames Down Link |publisher=Surrey County Council |access-date = 6 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110622015653/http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspublications.nsf/f2d920e015d1183d80256c670041a50b/359f0ef32e86608b80257212004640cd/%24FILE/TDLroute.pdf |archive-date=22 June 2011 }}</ref>

==History==
Until [[Putney Bridge]] was opened in 1729, Kingston Bridge was the only crossing of the river between [[London Bridge]] and [[Staines Bridge]].

According to 16th-century antiquarian [[John Leland (antiquary)|John Leland]], the bridge existed in the centuries when [[Anglo-Saxon England]] existed (after Roman Britain and before 1066). He wrote "And yn the old tyme the commune saying ys that the bridge where the commun passage was over the Tamise was lower on the ryver then it is now. And when men began the new town in the Saxons tymes they toke from the very clive of Comeparke [cliff of Coombe Park] side to build on the Tamise side; and sette a new bridge hard by the same."<ref name=BritHist/> Other sources claim that the first Kingston Bridge was constructed in the 1190s.<ref name="Guides">{{cite web |url = http://www.kingstontour.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/kingston-history.html |title=Kingston's History |publisher=Kingston Tour Guides |work=Guided walks of Historic Kingston |access-date=27 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140307092320/http://www.kingstontour.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/kingston-history.html |archive-date= 7 March 2014 }}</ref>

Leland refers to a contemporary bridge and to an older wooden bridge that had existed at Kingston since the 13th century. This was about 100 feet downstream of the present bridge: Old Bridge Street at [[Hampton Wick]] used to be matched by an Old Bridge Street on the Kingston side.<ref>{{harvnb|Thacker|1968|p=455}}</ref> In 1318 the bridge was described as being in a dangerous condition.<ref>{{cite book |first=Fred S.|last=Thacker|title=The Thames Highway|volume=2, Locks and Weirs |publisher=[[David & Charles]] |year=1968 |orig-year= reprint of 1920 edition |page=454 }}</ref> The successive bridges contributed greatly to Kingston's success as a [[medieval]] [[market town]].

Destroying or defending the few bridges of the Thames gave power – having no nearby bridges would particularly hinder mounted armies.  The mediaeval timber bridge fell victim to destructions during the [[Wars of the Roses]] and [[Wyatt's rebellion]]. There are records of tolls being granted for various spells to pay for repairs to the bridge, but in 1567, Robert Hamond gave a sum to make it a free bridge 'forever'.<ref name=BritHist>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45379 ''Kingston upon Thames'', The Environs of London: volume 1: County of Surrey (1792), pp. 212–256]. Date accessed: 30 September 2008</ref> However, in spite of his endowments, for some years in the 18th century certain tolls were reimposed under the authority of the mayor and aldermen of the [[borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]]. The bridge was described in 1710 "The great Wooden Bridge hath 20 [[wikt:interstice|interstices]]:{{NoteTag|[[wikt:interstice|Interstices]], also known as spans, are colloquially and, where arched, called arches.}} two in the middle wide enough for barges...it had 22 pierres [piers] of Wood and had in the middle two fair Seates for Passengers to avoid Carts and to sit and enjoy the delightfull Prospect".<ref>{{harvnb|Thacker|1968|p=456. Original quote from ''A Perambulation of the County of Surrey'' by John Aubrey pp.45–46.}}</ref>

The bridge's state of repair became increasingly problematic by the early 19th century. It had become increasingly dilapidated and its narrowness made passage difficult both for river and road traffic. Pressure mounted for it to be rebuilt but no agreement could be reached on who would be responsible or who would pay for it. The courts became involved in 1813 but were overtaken by events in January 1814, when part of the bridge collapsed due to a severe frost. The court ordered Kingston to repair the bridge from its own resources but a complete replacement was by that time clearly necessary.<ref name="Croad2003">{{cite book |last=Croad|first=Stephen|title=Liquid History: The Thames Through Time |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=wI9nAAAAMAAJ |year=2003|publisher=[[Batsford Books]]|isbn=978-0-7134-8834-0 |page=25 }}</ref>

=== 1828 bridge ===
[[File:KingstonBridgeNEW AND COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SURREY & SUSSEXauthorThomasAllenartistpossiblyNathaniel WHITTOCK.jpg|thumb|left|A view of Kingston Bridge published in 1831. It has been widened twice since then.]]

In 1825 [[Municipal Borough of Kingston upon Thames|Kingston Corporation]] notified the [[City of London Corporation]] Navigation Committee that it intended to build a new bridge. An act of Parliament, the '''{{visible anchor|Kingston-upon-Thames Bridge Act 1825}}''' ([[6 Geo. 4]]. c. cxxv) was passed in the same year to authorise construction. The corporation planned to erect a cast-iron bridge, and an architectural competition was held with a prize of 100 guineas. The winner was John Burges Watson, with a design for a bridge of three equal arches. However, concerns over the rising cost of iron led to the abandonment of the scheme, and it was decided instead to build a stone bridge in the classical style to a design by [[Edward Lapidge]], the [[county surveyor]]. The first stone was laid by the [[Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool|Earl of Liverpool]] at a ceremony on 7 November 1825<ref>{{cite journal |title=New bridge, Kingston-upon-Thames |journal=The New Monthly Magazine and Universal Register |volume=15 |pages=559–6 |date=1 December 1825 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4UUFAAAAQAAJ |access-date=20 July 2011 }}</ref> and the bridge was opened by the [[Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen|Duchess of Clarence]] (the future Queen Adelaide) on 17 July 1828.<ref name="Croad2003" /> The approach road to the east was named Clarence Street in her honour. The remains of the original Kingston Bridge are now housed in Kingston's new multi-arts venue, [https://fuseboxkingston.org FUSEBOX].  

The new bridge, about {{Convert|100|feet|m}} upstream from its predecessor,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kingston.gov.uk/bridge_and_undercroft_leaflet.adobe_version-3.pdf |title=Old Kingston Bridge and Undercroft |access-date=20 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112011935/http://www.kingston.gov.uk/bridge_and_undercroft_leaflet.adobe_version-3.pdf |archive-date=12 November 2011 }}</ref> was built of [[Portland stone]]: comprising five elliptical arches.  The centre arch enclosed a {{Convert|60|foot|m}} span, {{Convert|19|feet|m}} in height, and the side arches {{Convert|56|feet|m}} then {{Convert|52|feet|m}} in span progressively from the centre. The [[abutment]]s were terminated by towers or [[bastion]]s, and the whole surmounted by a [[cornice]] and [[balustrade]], with galleries projecting over the pier; which gave a bold relief to the general elevation. The length of the bridge was {{Convert|382|feet|m}} by {{Convert|27|feet|m}} in width.  The building contract was undertaken by Herbert for £26,800 ({{Inflation|UK|26800|1825|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}), and extra work did not exceed £100, a rare occurrence in major public or private undertakings of that description at the time.
[[File:Kingston Bridge Over The Thames.jpg|thumb|Kingston Bridge on the upstream side]]
Following a lengthy campaign which came to a conclusion in 1869, the bridge became free from tolls on 12 March 1870,<ref name="Croad2003" /> and celebrations including a fireworks show were followed a few days later with the burning of the toll gates on Hampton Green. In March 1906, [[London United Tramways]] installed tramlines on Kingston Bridge, connecting the Surrey and Middlesex routes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trams, The trams came to Middlesex at the start of the 20th century - Twickenham Museum|url=https://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk/detail.php?aid=434&cid=45&ctid=|access-date=2021-08-16|website=www.twickenham-museum.org.uk}}</ref> The increase in traffic and the narrowness of the road became a problem and in 1911 the engineering firm [[Mott, Hay and Anderson|Mott & Hay]] was contracted to widen the bridge on the downstream side.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Basil Mott - Graces Guide|url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Basil_Mott|access-date=2021-08-16|website=www.gracesguide.co.uk}}</ref> The work was undertaken between 1912 and 1914 with the carriageway increased from {{Convert|25|feet|m}} to {{Convert|55|feet|m}}. A new façade of [[Portland stone]] was designed to replicate the features of the original. The bridge was reopened in October 1914.<ref name="Croad2003" /> In 1931, the trams were replaced by trolleybuses - before these were replaced by diesel buses in 1962.<ref>{{Cite web|title=London United Tramway Car 320, Kingston Bridge|url=https://www.tramwayinfo.com/Tramframe.htm?https://www.tramwayinfo.com/trampostcards/Postc144.htm|access-date=2021-08-16|website=www.tramwayinfo.com}}</ref> Following construction of the [[Kingston_upon_Thames#Kingston_Relief_Road|Kingston Relief Road]] in the late 1980s, the bridge was widened again in 2000 to include two cycle lanes, larger pavements and a bus lane, from {{Convert|55|feet|m}} to {{Convert|79|feet|m}}.

The bridge was given protection as a [[listed building|Grade II* listed structure]] in 1951.<ref>{{NHLE |desc= Kingston Bridge |num=1300232 |date = 30 July 1951 |accessdate=29 July 2020 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Kingston Railway Bridge]]
* [[List of crossings of the River Thames]]
* [[List of bridges in London]]

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}} 
 
== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* Kingston New Bridge, in ''The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction'' Volume XII., No. 324, 26 July 1828
* {{Structurae|id=20011372|title=Kingston Bridge}}
{{refend}}

{{-}}
{{River item box
|table = start
|upstream = [[Hampton Court Bridge]] (road)
|downstream = [[Kingston Railway Bridge]] (rail)
|location = TQ177693
}}
{{River item box
|table = end
|River = [[Thames Path]]
|upstream = northern bank<br />[[Hampton Court Bridge]]
|downstream = southern bank<br />[[Teddington Lock Footbridge]]
}}
{{LB Richmond}}{{Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool}}
[[Category:1828 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Bridges across the River Thames]]
[[Category:Bridges in London]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1828]]
[[Category:Buildings by Edward Lapidge]]
[[Category:Former toll bridges in England]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed bridges in London]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames]]
[[Category:Hampton Wick]]
[[Category:Rebuilt buildings and structures in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]
[[Category:Transport in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames]]
[[Category:Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool]]
[[Category:Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen]]