Hampton Court Bridge

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Coordinates: 51°24′14″N, 0°20′33″W

Hampton Court Bridge
Hampton Court bridge in 2006
Crosses	River Thames
Locale	East Molesey Hampton Court Palace
Designer	W. P. Robinson Sir Edward Lutyens
Design	Arch
Material	Brick
Number of spans	3
Piers in water	2
Opening date	3 July 1933
Coordinates	51°24′14″N, 0°20′33″W

Hampton Court Bridge crosses the River Thames in England in a north to south direction between East Molesey, Surrey and Hampton Court Palace, Greater London. It is on the reach above Teddington Lock and about hundred yards upstream of the bridge is Molesey Lock.

On the north bank is Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Court Park and Bushy Park. On the south bank is Hampton Court railway station, Molesey Lock and the mouth of the River Mole.

Contents 1 Historic crossings 2 The modern bridge 3 References 4 See also

[edit] Historic crossings

The location of the bridge has been a ferry crossing point since the Tudor period. The first bridge was built 1752–53, after a 1750 parliamentary bill enabled the construction of a privately owned bridge. It had seven wooden arches, and was built in the Chinoiserie design of the Willow pattern that was popular at the time. It was subsequently replaced by a more sturdy wooden bridge in 1778.

In 1864–66, a new bridge was built, designed by E. T. Murray. It consisted of wrought iron lattice girders resting on four cast iron columns. The approach was between battlemented brick walls. One of these approach walls still remain on the south bank.

[edit] The modern bridge

The modern bridge is the fourth to be located on the site. It was designed by W. P. Robinson and Sir Edwin Lutyens to reflect the style of portions of Hampton Court Palace designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The bridge has 3 arches, and is designed to carry road traffic.

Construction of the present bridge began in 1930. The work included demolition of a hotel (the Old Castle), diverting the flow of the River Mole into the River Ember, and constructing a new road. Today this road is known as Hampton Court Way and connects the A308 with the A307 (Portsmouth road). The bridge is constructed of reinforced concrete and faced with red bricks.

The bridge was opened by Edward VIII, then Prince of Wales on 3 July 1933 on the same day as the opening of Chiswick Bridge and Twickenham Bridge, which carry the A316 (the stretch then called the Richmond bypass).

[edit] References

• Source: Elmbridge Borough Council
• http://www.sunburycourt.co.uk/whats_to_see/river_thames.htm

[edit] See also

• Crossings of the River Thames

Next crossing upstream	River Thames	Next crossing downstream
Hampton Ferry (pedestrian)	Hampton Court Bridge	Kingston Bridge (road)
Next crossing upstream	Thames Path	Next crossing downstream
southern bank Shepperton to Weybridge Ferry	Hampton Court Bridge	northern bank Kingston Bridge