How many thames bridge crossings

Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Esther Fleming April 1, Table of Contents. Previous Article Do magnolias grow in Wisconsin? Next Article Who is the original people of Afghanistan? The River Thames has so many bridges thrown across it because of its position in the busiest part of the land, and the river has caused many of the great towns of the southern counties to grow, which in turn required a taming of the flood.

The river flows for miles from its source to Southend Pier. In its upper reaches it is a modest river but it becomes navigable remarkably soon, at Cricklade , and the river below here is broad and a formidable barrier: all bridges must be such as will not hinder navigation, but the needs of navigation mean that until the river becomes tidal at Teddington , there are locks on its course, several of which provide a way to cross from one bank to another.

Many of the present road bridges over the river are on the sites of earlier fords, ferries and wooden structures. The Romans under Julius Caesar forded the river probably at Brentford , which would be a hazardous undertaking today; it is on a reach frequented by cargo ships. The growth of Kingston upon Thames in Surrey is believed to stem from its having the only crossing between London Bridge and Staines until the beginning of the 18th century.

Proposals to build bridges across the Thames at Lambeth and Putney in around were defeated by the Rulers of the Company of Watermen, since it would mean ruin for the 60, rivermen who provided a pool of naval reserve.

Several central London road bridges were built in the 19th century, most conspicuously Tower Bridge , the only bascule bridge on the river, designed to allow ocean-going ships to pass beneath it.

The development of the railway resulted in a spate of bridge building in the 19th century including Blackfriars Railway Bridge and Charing Cross Hungerford Railway Bridge in London , and the spectacular railway bridges by Isambard Kingdom Brunel at Maidenhead , Gatehampton and Moulsford. The Tower Subway was the first railway under the Thames, which was followed by all the deep-level tube lines.

Two road tunnels were built in East London at the end of the 19th century, the Blackwall Tunnel and the Rotherhithe Tunnel , and the latest tunnel is the Dartford Crossing.

Many foot crossings were established across the weirs that were built on the non-tidal river, and some of these remained when the locks were built — for example at Benson Lock. Others were replaced by a footbridge when the weir was removed as at Hart's Weir Footbridge.

Around the year , several footbridges were added, either as part of the Thames Path or in commemoration of the Millennium. Some ferries still operate on the river. Upstream are smaller pedestrian ferries, for example Hampton Ferry and Shepperton to Weybridge Ferry; the latter is the only non-permanent crossing that remains on the Thames Path. The list below starts at the source and runs downstream, to the Thames Estuary.

A few of the crossings listed are public pedestrian crossings using walkways across lock gates and bridges above or adjacent to the adjoining weirs. Most of the other locks on the River Thames also have walkways across their lock gates and weirs, or one may walk with care across the top of the lock gates.

However at many of the locks either the lock does not completely cross the river, or access is restricted to authorised personnel only, and are therefore such locks should not be listed.

Apart from bridges, tunnels and locks, the Thames has several ferries. Commuter boat services operate along some reaches of the river in London, and tourist boat services sail the river both in London and upstream, which services may bring the traveller to light at the other bank to continue his journey on foot.

Not all of the bridges beyond Cricklade are listed below. For example, there are a number of small agricultural bridges allowing access between fields, and bridges to properties in Ashton Keynes that are not mentioned. The river splits as it passes through Ashton Keynes. Three options were announced in April Jump to: navigation , search. BBC News. Take a look behind the scenes at the famous bridge and discover areas such as the machinery room, which houses the hydraulic system that allows the bridge to rise for river traffic.

Its driver, Albert Gunton, avoided catastrophe by accelerating rapidly and jumping the gap. While much more subdued in design compared to its flashier neighbour, London Bridge is arguably just as famous.

The first incarnation was built by the Romans, followed later by medieval bridges with houses on top, and a stone bridge commissioned by Henry II which lasted until But the story that Robert P. McCulloch thought that he was paying for the more iconic Tower Bridge is now thought to be an urban legend. Built in , Blackfriars Bridge gained notoriety in when Vatican bank chairman Robert Calvi was found dead on it.

The first bridge built here in was made up of nine granite arches and commemorated the victory of the British, the Dutch and the Prussians at the Battle of Waterloo in Now a rail bridge, the Hungerford Bridge was also initially designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel as a footbridge. Cross the Thames at Westminster Bridge if you want to get an iconic picture of Big Ben on the north bank, or the London Eye to the south.

The bridge also features details by the same architect as the Palace of Westminster , Charles Barry. This red-and-yellow bridge designed by Sir Alexander Binnie links Pimlico on the north bank of the Thames with Vauxhall , a major south London interchange, on the south bank. In , during the construction of Chelsea Bridge , which was originally referred to as Victoria Bridge, workmen found Roman and Celtic weapons, as well as human skulls and it was thought that this might have been where Julius Caesar and his army crossed the Thames.

Albert Bridge connects Chelsea on the north bank of the Thames to Battersea on the south.