Hampton Court Bridge

Hampton Court Bridge is a Grade II listed structure connecting Hampton in London with East Molesey in Surrey. It is the most upstream crossing among all Thames bridges within Greater London. Unique to this bridge, one bank lies within the county. The Thames Path crosses the river here.

This location has been a ferry crossing since at least the Tudor era.

In 1750 James Clarke obtained parliamentary approval to construct the first bridge at Hampton Court. Built between 1752 and 1753 by Samuel Stevens and Benjamin Ludgator, it was a wooden structure with seven arches, designed in the Chinoiserie style, reminiscent of the Willow pattern that was fashionable then. The bridge opened on December 13, 1753.

In 1778, this bridge was replaced with a sturdier eleven-arch wooden bridge. By 1840, however, the bridge had fallen into disrepair. The owner appealed to the Corporation of London for support in rebuilding, arguing that the city's construction of Molesey Lock and Weir had made navigation through the bridge hazardous. At the time, the bridge was described as "crazy, hog-backed, inconvenient, and obstructive to navigation."

Construction of the third bridge began in 1864 and was completed the following year. Designed by E. T. Murray and commissioned by Thomas Allan, the new bridge featured wrought iron lattice girders supported by four cast iron columns. The approach to the bridge was flanked by battlemented brick walls, a remnant of which still stands on the south bank. Despite its practicality, the bridge was heavily criticized for its appearance, with some calling it "one of the ugliest bridges in England" and "a flagrant eyesore." Nonetheless, the bridge proved profitable for Allan, who collected over £3,000 annually in tolls until he was bought out in 1876 by a joint committee of local boards and the Corporation of London.

The current bridge, the fourth on the site, was designed to handle heavy motorized traffic. Constructed of reinforced concrete with red brick and white Portland stone facings, it features three wide arches. I think this bridge has a simple elegance created by the combination of brick and stone.

The bridge was one of three that were authorized by Parliament in 1928, alongside the Twickenham Bridge and Chiswick Bridge. It was designed by Surrey County engineer W. P. Robinson and architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, who aimed to reflect the architectural style of Sir Christopher Wren’s contributions to Hampton Court Palace. Construction began in September 1930, with the new bridge built slightly downstream from the old one to allow continued traffic flow. The old bridge was then demolished.

The modern bridge required the demolition of a small hotel, The Old Castle, and the diversion of the River Mole's flow into the River Ember. It was officially opened by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, on July 3, 1933, the same day as the openings of Chiswick and Twickenham bridges. In 1952, Hampton Court Bridge was granted Grade II listed status in recognition of its architectural significance.

Today, the bridge is surrounded by an area rich in architectural and historical interest. On the north bank, Hampton Court Palace and Gardens, Hampton Court Park, and Bushy Park are prominent features, with many listed buildings lining the river. The south bank has a lively mix of restaurants, boutiques, and bars near Hampton Court railway station, transitioning into residential areas. Molesey Lock is just a short distance from the bridge at the mouth of the River Mole. The river Thames was one of the major highways for royalty and their entourages when they escaped the stench of the City of London.