Bridges protected: Listed status for Thames crossings
Seven London bridges were granted graded listings yesterday to protect them against unsympathetic development.
On the advice of English Heritage, Grade II listings were given to Chelsea, Lambeth and Richmond Railway bridges. Cremorne (or Battersea Railway bridge), Hammersmith, Twickenham and Vauxhall bridges were listed at, or upgraded to, the higher Grade II*.
The culture secretary, Andy Burnham, said: "These seven examples represent the very best of Britain's bridge-building heritage; from one of the first modern suspension bridges in the world to Britain's only example of sculpture on a river crossing. They show British engineering at its best."
Simon Thurley, of English Heritage, said he was delighted: "London's bridges are the vertebrae of this city's great spine - the river Thames. Considering their architectural and historic contribution to the capital, a surprising number of these magnificent river crossings do not have statutory protection."
Each of the bridges is interesting in its own right. The newest is Chelsea bridge near Battersea power station. It opened in 1937 and might be familiar to people as the one with the turrets guarding the entrances. Lambeth bridge, opened in 1929 by George V and Queen Mary, was constructed by the same firm that built the Tyne bridge between Newcastle and Gateshead and the Sydney Harbour bridge. The oldest bridge being listed is Cremorne which opened in 1863.
Read entire article at Guardian (UK)
On the advice of English Heritage, Grade II listings were given to Chelsea, Lambeth and Richmond Railway bridges. Cremorne (or Battersea Railway bridge), Hammersmith, Twickenham and Vauxhall bridges were listed at, or upgraded to, the higher Grade II*.
The culture secretary, Andy Burnham, said: "These seven examples represent the very best of Britain's bridge-building heritage; from one of the first modern suspension bridges in the world to Britain's only example of sculpture on a river crossing. They show British engineering at its best."
Simon Thurley, of English Heritage, said he was delighted: "London's bridges are the vertebrae of this city's great spine - the river Thames. Considering their architectural and historic contribution to the capital, a surprising number of these magnificent river crossings do not have statutory protection."
Each of the bridges is interesting in its own right. The newest is Chelsea bridge near Battersea power station. It opened in 1937 and might be familiar to people as the one with the turrets guarding the entrances. Lambeth bridge, opened in 1929 by George V and Queen Mary, was constructed by the same firm that built the Tyne bridge between Newcastle and Gateshead and the Sydney Harbour bridge. The oldest bridge being listed is Cremorne which opened in 1863.