The Modern Bridge
The modern bridge is the fourth on the site. It was designed by W. P. Robinson and Sir Edwin Lutyens to reflect the style of portions of Hampton Court Palace designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The bridge has 3 arches, and is designed to carry road traffic.
Construction of the present bridge began in 1930. The work included demolition of a hotel (the Old Castle), diverting the flow of the River Mole into the River Ember, and constructing a new road. Today this road is known as Hampton Court Way and connects the A308 with the A307 (Portsmouth road). The bridge is constructed of reinforced concrete and faced with red bricks.
The bridge was opened by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) on 3 July 1933, on the same day as the opening of Chiswick Bridge and Twickenham Bridge, which carry the A316 (the stretch then called the Richmond bypass). The bridge was designated a Grade II listed structure in 1952.
Read more about this topic: Hampton Court Bridge
Famous quotes containing the words modern and/or bridge:
“A modern author would have died in infancy in a ruder age.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“London Bridge is broken down,
Dance o’er my lady lee,
London Bridge is broken down,
With a gay lady.
How shall we build it up again?
Dance o’er my lady lee,”
—Unknown. London Bridge (l. 1–6)