Lambeth Bridge
Coordinates: 51 ° 29 ′ 40 ″ N , 0 ° 7 ′ 22 ″ W.
| Lambeth Bridge | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| use | Road bridge | |
| Convicted | Main road A3203 | |
| Crossing of | Thames | |
| place | London | |
| construction | Arch bridge | |
| start of building | 1st bridge: 2nd bridge: 1929 |
|
| opening | 1st bridge: 1862 2nd bridge: May 12, 1932 |
|
| location | ||
|
||
The Lambeth Bridge is a road bridge over the River Thames in London . It connects the City of Westminster on the west side with the district of Lambeth in the London Borough of Lambeth on the east side. The main road A3203 runs above it. On the east bank are the Lambeth Palace and the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization .
The 236.5 meter long bridge is made of steel and reinforced concrete and is clad with polished granite . At both ends there are obelisks , which have the shape of a pineapple at the top and symbolize hospitality. The bridge is painted red to match the color of the leather armchairs in the House of Lords , whose boardroom faces Lambeth Bridge. The Westminster Bridge , however, is painted in green to the color of the House of Commons equivalent.
history
Lambeth Bridge is on the site of a former ferry that has been in operation since at least the 13th century. The king's boat moored here before important state events. The road that leads to the bridge is called Horseferry Road. This "horse ferry" was owned by the Archbishop of Canterbury , whose London residence was Lambeth Palace. After Westminster Bridge was built in 1750, the Archbishop received compensation for lost ferry revenues.
Parliament approved the construction of Lambeth Bridge in 1860. The suspension bridge, built under the direction of Peter William Barlow , was 252 meters long and was opened in 1862, and there was a toll to be used . But concerns about the safety and the almost insurmountable steep access ramps for horse-drawn vehicles meant that almost only pedestrians used the bridge. After the bridge was taken over by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1879, there was no toll. At this point the bridge was largely rusted.
In 1905 it was decided to build a new building, but nothing happened at first. Vehicle use was restricted more and more until it was completely banned. After the erection of a temporary bridge, Sir George Humphreys began erecting a new building in 1929. King George V opened the new bridge on May 12, 1932.
Web links
- Lambeth Bridge. In: Structurae
- William Humber: A Complete Treatise on Cast and Wrought Iron Bridge Construction ; Description of the Lambeth Suspension Bridge (1862), pp. 256-258. Lockwood & Co., London 1870. Digitized on Google Books.
|
upriver Vauxhall Bridge |
River crossings of the Thames |
downstream Westminster Bridge |