Putney Bridge

Putney Bridge, a Grade II listed structure, spans the River Thames in west London, linking Putney on the south side to Fulham on the north. Before the first bridge was built in 1729, a ferry connected the two banks.

Just southwest of the bridge, Putney Embankment hosts Putney Pier, a stop for riverboat services and the starting point of the famous Oxford and Cambridge Championship Course in rowing. On the south side, the modern Putney Wharf Tower, with its distinctive glass prow, is one of Putney’s tallest buildings.

Two medieval parish churches, St Mary’s in Putney and All Saints in Fulham, stand beside the bridge’s abutments, a rare sight along a major river. The first bridge between Fulham and Putney dates back to the Civil War when Parliamentary forces built a bridge of boats in 1642. Later, in 1720, Sir Robert Walpole—who would soon become Britain’s first Prime Minister—was reportedly inspired to build a bridge after being stranded on the Putney side due to an inattentive ferryman.

The first permanent bridge, designed by Thomas Phillips and Royal Navy Surveyor Sir Jacob Ackworth, opened in 1729. Known as Fulham Bridge, it was a toll bridge replaced in 1886 by the current stone structure. Mary Wollstonecraft, the pioneering feminist philosopher, allegedly planned to jump from the bridge in 1795 after discovering her lover’s infidelity.

The bridge has played a key role in the Boat Race from 1845 until 1856, serving as the starting point. Today, it marks the end of the Championship Course for rowing competitions, including the iconic Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.

The bridge was damaged in 1870 by a barge collision. It was later demolished to make way for the current bridge, designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette. Completed in 1886, the stone and granite bridge is 700 feet long and 43 feet wide. The Prince and Princess of Wales opened and widened it in 1933. The bridge remains a vital part of London's infrastructure and rowing culture.