Chelsea Bridge

In 1931, the London County Council (LCC) proposed replacing Chelsea Bridge with a modern six-lane bridge costing £695,000 (about £50.2 million today). Due to the Great Depression, the Ministry of Transport refused funding. Still, to boost employment in Battersea, they agreed to underwrite 60% of a cheaper four-lane bridge for £365,000 (about £26.4 million today), provided all materials were sourced within the British Empire.

In contrast to the ornate 1858 bridge, the new Chelsea Bridge has a much more utilitarian, no-frills design. The only decorative elements are the two lamp posts at each entrance. Each is topped with a gilded galleon and features a coat of arms. On the outward-facing sides of the four posts, you'll find the LCC coat of arms, which includes the Lion of England, St George's Cross, and wavy lines symbolizing the Thames. The inward-facing sides are more specific: on the south end, there's a dove representing peace from the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea. On the northwest corner, there's a mix of symbols like the winged bull, lion, boar heads, and stag for the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea. And on the northeast corner, you'll spot the portcullis and Tudor roses, representing the Metropolitan Borough of Westminster. It was close to here that the bronze Battersea shield, dating from 350–50 BC, was found.

Demolition of the old bridge began in 1934, and a temporary footbridge from Lambeth Bridge replaced it. The Holloway Brothers built the new Chelsea Bridge, designed by LCC architects G. Topham Forrest and E. P. Wheeler. It is a 64-foot wide, self-anchored suspension bridge, unique in London. The bridge's materials came from across the British Empire, with steel from Scotland and Yorkshire, granite from Aberdeen and Cornwall, timber from British Columbia, and asphalt from Trinidad.

Construction involved building the roadway in sections supported by barges, lifted by the tide into place. The bridge’s minimalist design contrasted with its ornate predecessor, featuring only four lamp posts with the LCC and local boroughs’ coats of arms. It was completed ahead of schedule and within budget, opening on 6 May 1937 by Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King.

A temporary bridge was erected nearby during WWII, but no action was taken. From the 1950s, the bridge became popular with motorcyclists, leading to a violent gang confrontation in 1970. In the 1970s, Chelsea Bridge was painted bright red and white, later redecorated in red, blue, and white in 2007. Floodlit at night complements the nearby Albert Bridge. Declared a Grade II listed structure in 2008, the bridge is now a protected historical site, with a new residential development, Chelsea Bridge Wharf, revitalizing the Battersea area.

Chelsea Bridge is now floodlit at night, complementing the nearby Albert Bridge. It plays a role in the ongoing redevelopment of the Battersea area, including the construction of new housing projects and commercial spaces. In 2004, a footbridge was added under the southern span to extend the Thames Path. With further riverfront developments underway, Chelsea Bridge continues to adapt to London's changing landscape while preserving its historical charm.