Putney Bridge is a key part of South West London's road network - an essential crossing point between Hammersmith and Wandsworth. Most famous as the starting point of the Boat Race, it has a long history.
There has been a crossing here since at least Saxon times, and probably before: there is evidence that Fulham Palace moat includes parts of a Neolithic earthwork. For most of recorded history, however, people have crossed here by ferry. A ferry is recorded here in the Domesday Book, yielding 20 shillings to the Lord of the Manor - though this had dropped to 15s by 1629.
It was indeed normal for many people travelling to the West of England to travel up the Thames to Putney before continuing the journey overland. The importance of the ferry can be judged that a 'Company of Free Watermen of Putney' was established here by the 17th century.
By the 18th century, however, it was clear that a bridge was needed, and an Act of 1726 sanctioned it construction: it was completed in 1729 at a cost of just under £24,000. This was built of timber, with 26 short spans, and was originally a toll bridge: it was paid for by private investors, who had to buy out the ferry and the ferrymen and provide charity for their families.
This bridge lasted for 150 years, but being built of wood with small spans, was becoming increasingly expensive to maintain, and had suffered from several collisions with barges. The Metropolitan Board of Works purchased the bridge in 1879 and discontinued the tolls in 1880. A new bridge was commissioned, designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, and opened in 1886. This has five broad arches faced with Cornish Granite, with Classical architectural detailing. The bridge was widened in 1933, although the essential design was retained. It is one of the river's most elegant crossings.
The bridge has two parish churches at either end - St Mary's Putney and All Saints Fulham. The entrance and churchyard of St Mary's was substantially reduced in 1933 when the bridge was widened.
Today, quiet appreciation of the bridge is hard at close quarters because of the volume of traffic that thunders across it: but good views can be had from Bishop's Park on the Fulham side. read more