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The Second Oldest Thames Bridge
There has been a bridge at Kingston since the year 1200, making it the second oldest Bridge over the Thames. London Bridge is the oldest. It remained the only other bridge until 1729 when a bridge was built at Fulham. This is how Kingston bridge and Frickers Eagle Brewery looked in 1910.
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Kingston Bridge |
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This photograph was taken in 1900. The bridge is Victorian and replaced a previous timber one.
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This is how it looked in the late 18th Century. In 1554, the bridge figured in a moment of history. Thomas Wyatt, son of Thomas Wyatt the poet, led an uprising against Queen Mary who was intent on returning to Catholicism and marrying King Philip of Spain. Wyatt tried to cross the Thames at Kingston but found that the townspeople, loyal to the Queen, had dismantled the centre section of the bridge. In gratitude, Queen Mary gave Kingston the right to hold two additional fairs in the town.
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Kingston Bridge, freed from toll |
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Initially tolls were charged for crossing the new bridge, but in 1870, tolls were abolished, to much public rejoicing in a formal ceremony on the bridge.
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