511:
607:
421:
33:
502:, near the southern end of the bridge, had provided direct connections to central London since 1846, the lack of rail connections opening on the north bank meant the area on the Fulham side remained undeveloped, and bridge usage was low. Tolmé's design was not sturdy enough to carry heavy vehicles, and drainage problems on the approach road to the north discouraged vehicles from using Wandsworth Bridge.
428:
The company was unable to finance the building of Ordish's design, and in 1870 a new Act of
Parliament was passed giving the company permission to build a bridge 30 feet (9.1 m) wide, crossing the river with five spans. Ordish was asked to design a cheaper bridge to the new specifications but
589:
between 1935 and 1937 was re-erected alongside
Wandsworth Bridge, and the existing bridge demolished. The new bridge was expected to be complete in 1939; however, a shortage of steel in the buildup to the Second World War delayed its opening until 25 September 1940. The steel panels cladding the
577:
for approval, with a covering note stating that "in the design of the bridge a severe simplicity of treatment has been carried out, expressed in a technique essentially related to the material proposed for its construction". Although the
Commission expressed concern that the bridge might be too
399:
would build its western terminus on the north bank of the river between
Chelsea and Fulham. In 1864, in anticipation of the new railway line generating high demand for a river crossing, an Act of Parliament was passed granting permission to the Wandsworth Bridge Company to build a bridge, to be
514:
The abolition of bridge tolls, 1880. Clockwise from top, the images show: the address being read at the opening of
Wandsworth Bridge; a race to be the first across Putney Bridge; the toll gates from Putney Bridge being thrown into the river; the Prince and Princess of Wales leaving Hammersmith
327:
would shortly be built on the north bank, leading to a sharp increase in the number of people wanting to cross the river at this point. The railway terminus was not built, and problems with drainage on the approach road made access to the bridge difficult for vehicles. Wandsworth Bridge was
445:; each of the cylindrical piers was sunk 14 feet (4.3 m) into the riverbed. The bridge was due to open in early 1873, but the workmen building it went on strike, and a third Act of Parliament was necessary to give the company time to resolve the dispute and complete the project.
572:
60 feet (18 m) in width, allowing two lanes of traffic in each direction, and designed to allow widening to 80 feet (24 m) if necessary. The design featured distinctive low curves, intended to reflect the low riverbanks in the area. The design was presented to the
546:
was introduced, and in 1897 a 10 mph (16 km/h) speed limit was imposed. With its narrowness and weight restrictions, by this point it was effectively a footbridge. As narrowness and weight restrictions meant that it was unable to carry buses, in 1926 a
598:, a colour scheme it retains today. Although it is one of London's busiest bridges, carrying over 50,000 vehicles per day, its drab colour scheme and minimalist design have led to it being described as "probably the least noteworthy bridge in London".
891:
643:
Wandsworth Bridge now marks the boundary above which a lower speed limit on the Thames is enforced. A 12 knots (22 km/h) speed limit is now in force downstream from
Wandsworth to Margaretness but because of the number of
563:
In 1935, the
Ministry of Transport agreed to finance 60 per cent of the projected £503,000 (about £44.1 million in 2024) cost of a replacement bridge, and the London County Council approved a new design, by Sir
1404:
531:. Despite having run at a loss throughout its lifetime, the Board of Works paid £53,313 (about £6.3 million in 2024) for the bridge, a substantial premium on its £40,000 construction cost. On 26 June 1880
351:, a colour scheme it retains. Although Wandsworth Bridge is one of the busiest bridges in London, carrying over 50,000 vehicles daily, it has been described as "probably the least noteworthy bridge in London".
391:
opened in 1863, but as the local population grew and London's built-up area began to encroach during the 19th century, pressure from local residents and businesses for a road bridge to be built increased.
578:
narrow, the design was approved. The work was put out for tender, with a stipulation that all materials used in the construction of the new bridge should be of
British origin or manufacture.
1414:
555:
agreed to finance a new bridge on the site. In 1928 it was decided instead to give priority to widening the much busier Putney Bridge, and the replacement of
Wandsworth Bridge was delayed.
630:
adjacent to
Wandsworth Town railway station, where Bridgend Road (A217), York Road (A3205), Swandon Way (A217) and Trinity Road (A214) meet. The roundabout is a noted example of 1960s
1429:
1409:
648:
using the upper reaches of the river, all of the tidal Thames upstream of Wandsworth Bridge is subject to a strictly enforced speed limit of 8 knots (15 km/h).
328:
commercially unsuccessful, and in 1880 it was taken into public ownership and made toll-free. Tolmé's bridge was narrow and too weak to carry buses, and in 1926 a
1434:
462:
remarked at the time of its opening that "No attempt has been made to produce architectural effect, the structure being substantial rather than ornamental". A
657:
486:, and was operated from then on by Metropolitan Railway trains. The plan for a terminus in Fulham was abandoned, and the line instead turned west at
441:. It cost £40,000 (about £4.5 million in 2024) to build, and consisted of five identical spans, supported by four pairs of concrete-filled iron
400:
financed by tolls, with the proviso that the bridge would be at least 40 feet (12 m) wide and cross the river with no more than three spans.
1361:
47:
692:
456:
pub. A utilitarian structure made of mismatched materials purchased for cheapness, the new bridge elicited unenthusiastic responses; the
1071:
1141:
1419:
309:
1449:
1439:
527:
c. xcix) was passed, and in 1880 Wandsworth Bridge, along with other London bridges, was taken into the public ownership of the
1356:
1326:
1285:
1259:
662:
412:. Wandsworth Bridge and Albert Bridge were authorised on the same day, the last private tollbridges authorised in London.
1424:
1311:
1233:
1215:
1197:
1171:
113:
542:
By the time it was taken into public ownership, the bridge was in very poor condition. In 1891 a weight limit of 5
532:
520:
491:
487:
472:
499:
293:
405:
396:
324:
297:
257:
40:
1099:
528:
1399:
614:
Historically, the southern approach roads had been in poor condition and confusing to use. In 1969 the
582:
519:
Wandsworth Bridge never raised enough toll revenue to cover the costs of repairs and maintenance. The
667:
636:
574:
495:
696:
510:
1373:
453:
388:
198:
133:
448:
Wandsworth Bridge was formally opened in a small ceremony on 26 September 1873, and a celebratory
371:
on the south bank were historically isolated from each other; the nearest crossing points were at
896:
458:
585:, and work began in 1937. A temporary footbridge that had been used during the redevelopment of
615:
1347:
552:
483:
409:
123:
565:
536:
479:
434:
401:
340:
213:
343:, was opened in 1940. At the time of its opening it was painted in dull shades of blue as
8:
1138:
442:
820:
387:, leading to the rapid spread of industry in the area during the 19th century. Nearby
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192:
148:
1228:, Silver Link Travelling Companion, vol. 2, Kettering: Silver Link Publishing,
548:
524:
376:
329:
478:
In 1867 the formerly independent Hammersmith and City Railway was absorbed by the
408:
bridge to comply with the Act's specifications, of a similar design to his nearby
1444:
1145:
826:
622:, a three-lane dual carriageway linking the southern end of Wandsworth Bridge to
515:
Bridge; the bridge-keeper's daughter with the Princess of Wales at Putney Bridge.
1320:
430:
320:
831:
827:"The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)"
586:
335:
In 1937 Tolmé's bridge was demolished. The present bridge, an unadorned steel
1393:
1295:
1269:
372:
305:
62:
49:
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380:
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to the east, both over a mile from Wandsworth. The fast flowing but narrow
360:
281:
92:
420:
433:
was appointed designer in his place. Tolmé designed a starkly functional
316:
1405:
Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
627:
591:
368:
344:
631:
619:
384:
301:
289:
285:
82:
539:, presided over a ceremony abolishing tolls over the three bridges.
32:
606:
543:
623:
449:
364:
102:
323:
in 1873, in the expectation that the western terminus of the
158:
1415:
Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Wandsworth
475:
toll was charged on pedestrians, and carts were charged 6d.
1430:
Transport in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
626:. At the immediate southern end of the bridge is a large
1410:
History of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
581:
The contract for the new bridge was awarded to Messrs
1100:"Fast Forward: The loafer's guide to popular culture"
1072:"Bright idea to make a landmark of Wandsworth Bridge"
685:
1276:
Pay, Ian; Lloyd, Sampson; Waldegrave, Keith (2009),
658:
List of lattice girder bridges in the United Kingdom
1275:
955:
1325:
590:bridge were painted in varying shades of blue to
1391:
933:
931:
634:design, and served as the setting for parts of
395:In 1864, it was expected that the newly formed
815:
813:
811:
1435:Transport in the London Borough of Wandsworth
1280:, Wisley: Artists' and Photographers' Press,
1122:
1120:
1053:
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1049:
1036:
1034:
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1005:
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990:
988:
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900:. No. 1779. 4 October 1873. p. 307
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383:at Wandsworth was well-situated for driving
300:on the south of the river, and the areas of
1190:Thames Bridges: From Dartford to the source
1015:
808:
1278:London's Bridges: Crossing the royal river
1117:
1046:
1027:
1000:
985:
869:
695:. Port of London Authority. Archived from
1187:
1089:
1069:
1063:
1021:
846:
823:inflation figures are based on data from
796:
775:
750:
738:
726:
711:
1249:
1040:
951:
949:
922:
863:
769:
605:
509:
419:
359:Although opposite each other across the
310:London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
1301:
1161:
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1057:
1009:
994:
878:
802:
790:
744:
732:
720:
1392:
1223:
1205:
979:
967:
1324:
1192:, Kettering: Silver Link Publishing,
946:
824:
663:List of crossings of the River Thames
601:
551:recommended its replacement and the
1210:, Harrow Weald: Capital Transport,
505:
315:The first bridge on the site was a
13:
1208:The Spread of London's Underground
1139:Port of London Thames Byelaws 2012
14:
1461:
1070:Westbrook, Andrew (2 July 2007),
429:refused to change the design, so
114:Wandsworth London Borough Council
956:Pay, Lloyd & Waldegrave 2009
521:Metropolis Toll Bridges Act 1877
492:London and South Western Railway
31:
1420:Bridges across the River Thames
1132:
973:
961:
912:
884:
500:Wandsworth Town railway station
284:in west London. It carries the
1450:1940 establishments in England
1440:Former toll bridges in England
938:"The Freeing of the Bridges".
558:
415:
181:
1:
1339:
678:
610:The current Wandsworth Bridge
354:
332:recommended its replacement.
921:, 26 September 1873, quoted
537:Alexandra, Princess of Wales
397:Hammersmith and City Railway
325:Hammersmith and City Railway
298:London Borough of Wandsworth
7:
942:. 28 June 1880. p. 12.
651:
594:it from German and Italian
529:Metropolitan Board of Works
452:was provided at the nearby
424:The first Wandsworth Bridge
10:
1466:
1106:, London, 13 February 2000
583:Holloway Brothers (London)
1425:Bridges completed in 1940
1368:
1352:
1342:
1337:
1166:, Edinburgh: Mainstream,
668:List of bridges in London
575:Royal Fine Art Commission
568:, for a three-span steel
406:Ordish–Lefeuvre Principle
271:
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197:39 feet (11.9 m) at
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109:
98:
88:
78:
39:
30:
23:
16:Bridge in London, England
1374:Battersea Railway Bridge
1250:Matthews, Peter (2008),
1188:Davenport, Neil (2006),
693:"Thames Bridges Heights"
673:
389:Battersea Railway Bridge
199:lowest astronomical tide
134:Battersea Railway Bridge
1302:Roberts, Chris (2005),
1162:Cookson, Brian (2006),
919:Illustrated London News
897:Illustrated London News
825:Clark, Gregory (2017).
533:Edward, Prince of Wales
459:Illustrated London News
294:Wandsworth Town Station
225:; 150 years ago
1224:Hornby, Frank (2000),
616:Greater London Council
611:
516:
425:
367:on the north bank and
262:53,299 vehicles (2004)
238:; 83 years ago
236:25 September 1940
223:26 September 1873
1348:Fulham Railway Bridge
1226:London Commuter Lines
609:
553:London County Council
513:
484:Great Western Railway
423:
312:, on the north side.
168:650 feet (200 m)
124:Fulham Railway Bridge
1206:Demuth, Tim (2003),
1144:5 March 2014 at the
566:Thomas Peirson Frank
480:Metropolitan Railway
435:lattice truss bridge
402:Rowland Mason Ordish
341:Thomas Peirson Frank
288:between the area of
214:Thomas Peirson Frank
63:51.46500°N 0.18806°W
1304:Cross River Traffic
892:"Metropolitan News"
176:60 feet (18 m)
59: /
1306:, London: Granta,
1164:Crossing the River
1076:Wimbledon Guardian
821:Retail Price Index
637:A Clockwork Orange
612:
602:Later developments
517:
426:
68:51.46500; -0.18806
1400:Bridges in London
1385:
1384:
1380:
1379:
1354:Wandsworth Bridge
1287:978-1-904332-90-9
1261:978-0-7478-0679-0
1254:, Oxford: Shire,
570:cantilever bridge
525:40 & 41 Vict.
337:cantilever bridge
278:Wandsworth Bridge
275:
274:
149:Cantilever bridge
25:Wandsworth Bridge
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1252:London's Bridges
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549:Royal Commission
506:Public ownership
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377:Battersea Bridge
375:to the west and
339:designed by Sir
330:Royal Commission
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140:Characteristics
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587:Chelsea Bridge
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414:
356:
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234:(first bridge)
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1199:1-85794-229-9
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1129:, p. 143
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1060:, p. 114
1059:
1054:
1052:
1050:
1042:
1041:Matthews 2008
1037:
1035:
1033:
1031:
1023:
1018:
1012:, p. 113
1011:
1006:
1004:
997:, p. 140
996:
991:
989:
981:
976:
969:
964:
957:
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941:
934:
932:
925:, p. 61.
924:
923:Matthews 2008
920:
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898:
893:
887:
881:, p. 139
880:
875:
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865:
864:Matthews 2008
860:
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805:, p. 138
804:
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793:, p. 112
792:
787:
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770:Matthews 2008
766:
764:
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747:, p. 116
746:
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735:, p. 111
734:
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723:, p. 316
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410:Albert Bridge
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373:Putney Bridge
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110:Maintained by
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29:
22:
19:
1387:
1369:
1353:
1343:
1331:River Thames
1303:
1277:
1251:
1225:
1207:
1189:
1163:
1155:Bibliography
1134:
1127:Roberts 2005
1108:, retrieved
1104:The Observer
1103:
1080:, retrieved
1075:
1065:
1058:Cookson 2006
1043:, p. 62
1024:, p. 75
1017:
1010:Cookson 2006
995:Roberts 2005
982:, p. 84
975:
963:
958:, p. 83
939:
918:
914:
902:. Retrieved
895:
886:
879:Roberts 2005
866:, p. 61
836:. Retrieved
830:
803:Roberts 2005
798:
791:Cookson 2006
772:, p. 60
745:Cookson 2006
740:
733:Cookson 2006
728:
721:Cookson 2006
701:. Retrieved
697:the original
687:
642:
635:
613:
580:
562:
541:
518:
490:to run over
477:
457:
454:Spread Eagle
447:
439:wrought iron
431:Julian Tolmé
427:
404:designed an
394:
381:River Wandle
361:River Thames
358:
334:
321:Julian Tolmé
314:
282:River Thames
280:crosses the
277:
276:
165:Total length
93:River Thames
18:
980:Hornby 2000
970:, p. 6
968:Demuth 2003
559:1940 bridge
498:. Although
488:Hammersmith
416:1873 bridge
317:toll bridge
130:Followed by
120:Preceded by
66: /
41:Coordinates
1394:Categories
1370:Downstream
679:References
628:roundabout
618:built the
592:camouflage
494:tracks to
385:watermills
369:Wandsworth
355:Background
345:camouflage
252:Statistics
243:1940-09-25
230:1873-09-26
51:51°27′54″N
1327:Crossings
1296:280442308
1270:213309491
940:The Times
904:22 August
703:23 August
640:in 1971.
632:modernist
620:A214 road
596:air raids
349:air raids
319:built by
308:, in the
302:Sands End
296:, in the
290:Battersea
286:A217 road
105:, England
83:A217 road
54:0°11′17″W
1362:TQ260755
1344:Upstream
1244:48194677
1182:63400905
1142:Archived
1110:30 April
1082:30 April
1078:, London
652:See also
496:Richmond
482:and the
347:against
267:Location
210:Designer
184:of spans
155:Material
1329:of the
624:Tooting
467:⁄
292:, near
241: (
228: (
205:History
89:Crosses
79:Carries
1445:Fulham
1310:
1294:
1284:
1268:
1258:
1242:
1232:
1214:
1196:
1180:
1170:
646:rowers
535:, and
450:buffet
365:Fulham
220:Opened
145:Design
103:London
99:Locale
838:7 May
674:Notes
443:piers
173:Width
159:Steel
1308:ISBN
1292:OCLC
1282:ISBN
1266:OCLC
1256:ISBN
1240:OCLC
1230:ISBN
1212:ISBN
1194:ISBN
1178:OCLC
1168:ISBN
1112:2009
1084:2009
906:2017
840:2024
705:2011
544:tons
304:and
819:UK
437:of
182:No.
1396::
1359::
1290:,
1264:,
1238:,
1176:,
1119:^
1102:,
1091:^
1074:,
1048:^
1029:^
1002:^
987:^
948:^
930:^
894:.
871:^
848:^
829:.
810:^
777:^
752:^
713:^
363:,
908:.
842:.
707:.
523:(
473:d
469:2
465:1
245:)
232:)
187:3
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