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SirSJPC!BIfSIO;^]S]KIIDK&lE, BCAMMEBSMITJar. 
 
SBCOND CDmON IMPSIOVBD. 
 
 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SUSPENSION BRlDGEi 
 
 HAMMERSMITH; 
 
 WITH 
 
 l^imarfes on Hocal anH 
 
 A TABLE, 
 
 SHOWING THE DISTANCE OF THE TOWNS, BRIDGES, 
 FROM LONDON TO WINDSOR BY WATER. 
 
 Nil Mortalibus arduumest. 
 
 [Entered at Stationers’ IlalL^ 
 
 HAMMERSMITHS 
 
 SOLD BY EDWARD PAGE, KING STREET^ 
 BY W. WALKER, 8, ANGEL TERRACE ; 
 
 ^0 BE HAD AT THE BRIDGF:, AND OF ALL BOOKSBLLE-R^. 
 
 1828 . 
 

 'Bsplaiiatioli of the Plate. 
 
 The View of the Bridge is taken from the Bank eastward of the City Arms 
 / on the Middlesex side. The disproportion of the openings betw'een the Piers 
 and Towers was occasioned by the desire to keep the navigation of the river 
 as clear as possible. 
 
 Ft. In. 
 
 The Water-way between the Suspension Tow^ers is 400 3 
 
 Distance between the Tow'er and Pier on the Middlesex side . . 142 11 
 
 Distance between the Tower and Pier on the Surrey side. . , . 145 6 
 
introduction: 
 
 ©Genius is a precious gift of Nature; aud when directed 
 to beneficial objects, and aided by study and application, 
 it produces useful inventions or improvements, which con- 
 tribute to the comforts or elegances of life. The mechanics 
 of Great Britain, whose intelligence, ingenuity, and indus- 
 try, constitute a great portion of the real wealth of the 
 nation, by following the dictates of genius, have been 
 enabled to surpass all others in the excellence of their 
 manufactures. Their productions and improvements may 
 be compared to a river, which, by extending its streams, 
 irrigates the soil and spreads fertility. If we look to the 
 Iron trade alone of this country, what a wide prospect of 
 benefit may be seen ! What has it not accomplished ? 
 What may it not yet accomplish ? One glance at the early 
 periods of human history will suffice to impress upon us a 
 due sense of the wonderful changes effected by talent,^ 
 energy, and perseverance. — Architecture is considered the 
 most ancient of the sciences. The necessity of a shelter 
 from immoderate heat and cold first impelled, man to 
 construct his humble hut, and make a thatch over his 
 rude habitation : as civilization advanced, ideas of con- 
 venience and beauty succeeded those suggested by mere 
 necessity ; and the art, so simple in its origin, has been 
 carried, by degrees, to its present height of elegance and 
 perfection. 
 
 The same remarks may be applied to the construction 
 of Bridges. A raft first enabled wanderers to cross the 
 rivers which intersected their way : a fevv planks laid over 
 the stream supplied the ordinary means by which men and 
 cattle passed the waters. Our limits will not allow us to 
 trace the degrees by which arts and improvements gained 
 upon the people of antiquity, until architecture reached 
 the perfection found among the Egyptians, Greeks, and 
 Romans. Europe, after Csesar and his legions advanced 
 into Spain and Gaul, received instruction in the art oif 
 
IV 
 
 l)ui[ding, and Bridges of stone were thrown over the Seirse. 
 at Paris, the Rhone and the Saone at Lyons, the Rhine," 
 the Danube, and other great rivers. It is unoertain when 
 the first Bridge was built over the Thames. William of 
 Malmsbury, the best authority on the subject, says, “ I 
 remember to have read, that in the year of Christ 994, 
 Sweyn, King of Denmark, besieged the City of London, 
 both by water and land. The citizens manfully defended 
 themselves and their King Ethelred, so as part of the 
 enemy were slain in battle and part drowned in the river 
 of Thames, because in their haste they took no heed of 
 London Bridge,’^ It was, no doubt, a timber Bridge up 
 to the year 1176, when one of stone was commenced, and 
 completed in thirty-three years. Westminster, Blackfriars, 
 and Waterloo Bridges, are well known to our readers as 
 tine specimens in stone, especially the latter, and require 
 no comment; the Iron Bridge at Staines, and those at 
 Vauxhall and Southwark, are objects worthy admiration, 
 inasmuch as they manifest the improvement made in 
 mechanical knowledge, and prove the amazing strength 
 produced by a combination of cast iron. Our object, 
 however, is only to bring to the view of our readers the 
 peculiar construction of the First Chain Bridge thrown 
 over the Thames, and a few local Particulars interesting 
 to those who may visit the spot. Every observer of the 
 rapid advance made by human intellect must reflect with 
 pleasing satisfaction on the completion of an undertaking, 
 to be hailed as the valuable result of genius and industry, 
 encouraged by the spirit of adventure and the employment 
 of British capital. 
 
 The success attending the erection of the HA^rMER- 
 SMiTH Bridge has proved an excitement to other pro- 
 jectors. On Monday, the 17th of March, 1828, a bill 
 was brought into the House of Commons for building the 
 Lambeth or Royal Clarence Bridge, across the Thames, 
 from Church Street to the opposite shore, in the Parish 
 of St. John the Evangelist, in Westminster. A bill for 
 the Lambeth Suspension Bridge, from Millbank Row, 
 Westminster, to the Surrey shore, was also brought in th^ 
 same day. 
 
HAMMERSMITH. 
 
 TUe wise and active conquer difficulties. 
 By daring to attempt them.’' 
 
 Considerable difficulty occurred iii the outset of this 
 undertaking. The first intention was to make the princi- 
 pal avenue on the Middlesex side communicate through 
 King Street with the North Road, and present the Bridge 
 from Hammersmith in the way W aterloo Bridge opens 
 upon the Strand. The circumstance of the Company not 
 availing themselves of so advantageous an approach to the 
 Bridge, is much regretted and generally condemned, as 
 this ornamental and useful structure would then have 
 struck the eye of every traveller. Some opposition 
 w'as offered to the plan upon which the work has been 
 finished, but it did not discourage the promoters of the 
 project. It was urged, that the Bridge would not pos- 
 sess advantages to compensate for the capital expended. 
 That argument, however, was not permitted to extend its 
 torpid influence. Fortunately, for the interests of the 
 country, British speculators are not shaken in their views 
 by slight objections. If all the great projects for the pro- 
 motion of the prosperity of trade, and the convenience of 
 the public, had been rendered abortive by cold calcula- 
 tions of remote mischance, the country would never have 
 been raised to the summit of earthly grandeur. Instead 
 of sending her ships to all parts of the world, laden with 
 our own productions^ we should have been forced to take 
 from foreigners those necessaries and luxuries which almost 
 every, nation is now compelled, from cheapness and supe- 
 riorityj.to receive from our hands. Discouraging predic- 
 laons have generally been made previously to the accom- 
 plishment of important public works. That celebrated 
 Engineer James Brindley , acting under the auspices of the 
 Duke of Bridgewater y when he first brought forward his 
 project; was considered insane. It was described to be 
 
6 
 
 wild and chimerical, impracticable and delusive ; yet it wa»' 
 succeessful : that stupendous navigation was accompFished : 
 water stretched its arms through the country, flowing in 
 wide navigable rivers through hills, and carrying its streams 
 through the bowels of the earth. The fact is, that Bridges, 
 by giving facility to the conveyance of the products of 
 industry to market, and bringing back from the Metropolis 
 and other parts articles serviceable to the community at 
 large, promote the interests of agriculture, and the resources 
 of the Nation. 
 
 The project for building the very handsome structure 
 we now see accomplished was carried into effect under 
 the provisions of a Bill passed in the Fifth Year of the 
 Heign of His present Majesty, intitled, An Act for 
 Building a Bridge over the River Thames at Hammer- 
 smith, and for making convenient Roads to communicate 
 therewith.’’ The Company were to raise £80,000 by the 
 sale of Shares. Having purchased the Barnes Elms Estate 
 on the Surrey side, and the ground on the Middlesex side, 
 they proceeded with their undertaking. The first Stone 
 of the North Tower was laid by His Royal Highness the 
 Duke of Sussex, on the 7th of May, 1825; and the 
 Bridge, having been completed, was opened to the Public 
 on Saturday, the 6th of October, 1827. The Inhabitants of 
 Hammersmith expected to be honoured by the presence of 
 the same Royal Personage at the opening of their Bridge, 
 but the private engagements of the illustrious Duke inter- 
 fered with that arrangement. The Proprietors announced 
 the fact in the following notice : — ‘‘ In order to remove as 
 much as possible the severe disappointment felt by the 
 great body of the Bridge Proprietors, and the Inhabitants 
 of the neighbourhood generally, in consequence of His 
 Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex having been prevented 
 from opening the Bridge, now first dedicated to the Pub- 
 lic, after having graciously condescended to commence the 
 structure by laying the first stone ; it is proposed to have 
 a splendid Display of Fire Works, with appropriate De- 
 vices, on the River, near the Bridge, this Evening at Six 
 o’clock. 
 
 ** Saturday, October 6th, 1827.”’ 
 
7 
 
 Early itt the morning of the same day, the Bells m' 
 Hammersmith Steeple rang merry Peals; Flags were 
 hoisted, and the Bridge was thrown open to the Public^ 
 The Charity Children of the Hamlet, drawn upon the 
 Bridge attended by the Churchwarden, marked the event, 
 by singing the national anthem, God save great George 
 our King ! In the evening, the Bridge and Banks of the 
 River were covered with spectators, who derived great 
 pleasure from the exhibition of Fire VTorks. The open- 
 ing was to the inhabitants a sort of Jubilee. Carriages 
 and waggons passed and repassed, proving the strength 
 and solklity ot* the structure, the completion of which cost 
 about £ 45 , 000 . 
 
 The work which is certainly a novelty in the vicinity 
 of London, is built upon the principle common to all sus- 
 pension or chain Bridges. The Menai Bridge is a work 
 of great magnitude and beauty, but it differs from this. 
 Brighton Pier is suspended by chains, but cannot be com- 
 pared to Hammersmith Bridge with respect to solidity. 
 The regular appearance of the iron work, and the able 
 manner in which it is finished generally, call forth the 
 approbation of the spectator. 
 
 The Bridge is formed by piers on shore, and two stone 
 towers rising from the bed of the river. The chains sus- 
 pended from the towers, and secured to the piers, support 
 the road-way, running through arches in the towers four- 
 teen feet wide. 
 
 DESIGNED BY AND EXECUTED UNDER THE 
 DIRECTION OF 
 
 WILLIAM TIERNEY CLARK, Engineer^. 
 
 A. L. LEITH, Secretary. 
 contractors: 
 
 Masonry, — G. W. and S. BIRD, of Hammersmith.. 
 
 Chains, — S. BROWN, of Poplar. 
 
 Platform, — E. J. LANCE, of Lewisham^ 
 
 Road, --3. D. SIMMONS, Milbank. 
 
8 
 
 The reader by casting a glance at the accompanying 
 Plate will be able to comprehend the following Table 
 of 
 
 DIMENSIONS. 
 
 Feet. la. 
 
 The extent of Water-way between the Suspension Towers in the 
 River is - - - - - - 400 3 
 
 The Distances between these and the Piers on Shore are as follow: 
 
 On the Middlesex side - - - - - 142 11 
 
 On the Surrey side - - - - - - 145 C 
 
 Each Shore Pier is in length Forty-five Feet, leaving a clear 
 Water-way of- - - - - - - 688 8 
 
 The Suspension Towei-s above the level of the Road-way - 48 0 
 
 Thickness of the Towers above -the Road-way - - 22 0 
 
 The Road-way is slightly curved upwards and elevated above 
 high water ™ . - . . . . 16 0 
 
 The extreme length from the back of the Piers on Shore - - 822 8 
 
 The Chains stretching from the Shore Piers support a Road-way of 688 8 
 
 The Road-way of the Menai Bridge is 553 Feet, consequently the 
 Chains of the Hammersmith Bridge suppoit aRoad-wa.y exceed- 
 ing thatof the 3Ienai Bridge by - - - - - 135 0 
 
 DESCRIPTION. 
 
 There are eight Chains composed of wrought iron bars, 
 five inches deep, and one inch thick each. Four of these 
 chains have six bars in each chain, and four have only 
 three bars in each chain. Tlie total number of chains is 
 thirty-six, which make a dip or curvature in the centre of 
 about twenty-nine feet. From these vertical rods are 
 suspended, supporting the road-way, which is formed of 
 strong timbers covered with granite. The width of the 
 carriage-way is twenty-feet. The foot-way on each side 
 is five feet wide. The suspension towers are built of 
 stone, and designed as archways of the Tuscan order, and 
 the part below the road-way to low water is boldly rus- 
 ticated. The approaches on both sides are provided with 
 octagonal Lodges or Toll-houses, with appropriate lamps 
 and parapet walls, terminating with stone pillars, sur- 
 mounted by ornamental caps. 
 
flUijantagesf anij l,ocal ©Ejects* 
 
 The want of such a communication between the counties 
 of Middlesex and Surrey was long felt by the Public; 
 the only previous connexion of the Surrey with the great 
 Western and Northern Roads being Putney and Kew 
 Bridges ; the deficiency is now however, supplied, and a 
 direct opening at once established, whereby a considerable 
 saving of time, distance, and expense is secured to the 
 Public. The line of Road on the Surrey side of the Bridge 
 leads directly to Barnes Common, whence Roads branch 
 off to all the South and South-western parts of the King- 
 dom : it is also the nearest way to Barnes, Mortlake, East 
 Sheen, Richmond, Hampton Court, Roehampton, Wim- 
 bledon, Kingston, Epsom, Guildford, and Portsmouth. 
 The distance from London to Richmond by Hyde Park 
 Corner is considerably shortened, and an easier commu- 
 nication (avoiding the hills of Putney and Wimbledon) 
 is made to Kingston, through which lies the great Road to 
 Portsmouth and all other places South-west of London, 
 In addition to the present roads others are in contempla- 
 tion, and will no doubt shortly be completed, both on the 
 Middlesex and Surrey sides of the. Bridge, from which 
 the Public will derive still further accommodation. 
 
 Independent of tlie above advantages, however, the 
 Bridge possesses one which will be thought by some of 
 more importance : we allude to the reduced Scale of Tolls, 
 which, when compared with those of the rival Bridges, 
 will be found to afford the strongest inducement to pre- 
 ference. That this point may be clearly understood, the 
 following statement of Tolls taken at the Suspension 
 Bridge and those demanded at Putney and Kew Bridges 
 is here submitted : 
 
 Foot Passenger , , - 
 
 Ass unladen . - • , 
 
 Mule or Horse, laden or unladen 
 Horse and Chaise - - , 
 
 Carriage, Cart, or Waggon with 2 Horses 
 Ditto, with 4 Horses 
 Ditto, with 6 Horses - 
 
 Cattle, at per Score - - . 
 
 gjieep, I^ambs, and Figs^ pe? Score 
 
 UAMMEIRSMITH PUTNEY) KEW 
 
 d. 
 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 1 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 0 10 
 0 a 
 
 0 6 
 ] 0 
 6 
 
 2 0 
 
 d. 
 
 2 
 
 0 8 
 
10 
 
 The Bridge has been honoured by much Royal Patron- 
 age since its opening, particularly by Her Royal Highness 
 the Duchess of Kent, who, accompanied by her daughter 
 the Princess Victoria, frequently visits the scene, as afford- 
 ing an agreeable promenade. The Road passing through 
 the Barnes Elms Estate on the Surrey side of the Bridge 
 has, from the attractions furnished by the surrounding 
 picturesque and beautiful scenery, become a most fashion- 
 able and admired drive. 
 
 To such as are fond of aquatic amusements the Bridge 
 is an admirable situation for viewing the varied sports 
 which the Thames affords during the summer season, by 
 a succession of Sailing and Rowing Matches ; on these 
 occasions, the Yatchs or Wherries, make the Bridge their 
 starting or returning point ; an assemblage of beauty and 
 fashion is always present to applaud the amateurs’ exer- 
 tion, and to patronize and reward the numerous candidates^ 
 for aquatic fame. 
 
 VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE^ 
 
 ** The River nobly foams and flows, 
 The charm of this delightful ground, 
 And all its sedgy turns disclose 
 Some fresher beauty varying round.” 
 
 The surrounding scenery is sacred tO; the Muses-. Pbets^ 
 Painters, and eminent Persons have, during ages, made 
 the verdant banks of the stream their abode. Standing 
 on the Bridge,, a few glances, will excite reminiscences 
 highly interesting. 
 
 East of the Bridge, on the Middlesex shore, stands the 
 site of Brandenburgh House, marked by the misfortunes 
 of Caroline of Brunswick. Nothing now remains of that 
 Royal Mansion : it was pulled down, and, like the Queen, 
 consigned to the “ tomb of all the Capulets.” There is a 
 grave-stone in the burial ground of Hammersmith which 
 contains a melancholy memorial of the funeral of that 
 Princess, 
 
11 
 
 ‘ Turning our eyes to the West, we may behold the oncO 
 magnificent residence of a more fortunate Queen. Upon 
 the Upper Mall, a large house with grounds extending to 
 the main western road, and now in possession of Mr* 
 Anderdon, was the Palace of Queen Catherine, Dowager 
 of Charles the Second. Her life was marked by gaiety 
 and courtly enjoyments. 
 
 The new Church at Hammersmith (St* Peter’s), also 
 forms an interesting feature in the scene. 
 
 Near this spot resided the witty Dr. RadclifFe, Phi- 
 Bician to king William. 
 
 Chiswick Church stands clo^e to the scene of a recent 
 calamity. At the Duke of Devonshire’s beautiful Villa, 
 died on the 8th of August, 1827, that highly gifted 
 minister and great statesman, George Canning. 
 
 It is a remarkable coincidence, that at the same Villa, 
 Charles James Fox terminated his career, having reached 
 the same age (Fifty-seven) as Mr. Canning.^We need 
 not add how deeply both were lamfented by the Public. 
 
 In a neat cottage adjoining the Dove Coffee House, 
 situated above the Creek Bridge, and between the Upper 
 and Lower Malls, Thomson the poet wrote part of his 
 Winter. He was in the habit of frequenting the room, 
 when the river was frozen and the country covered with 
 snow. We may almost presume that the following ideas 
 occurred during his contemplation from the window 
 
 u — ;; " I ■ r — ■ The loosen’d ice 
 
 Let down the flood, and half dissolved by day. 
 
 Rustles no more, but to the sedgy hank 
 f’aSt'grows, or gathers round the pointed stone 
 A crystal pavement, by the breath of Heaven 
 'Cemented firm, till, seized from shore to shore. 
 
 The whole imprison’d river growls below.” 
 
 The house is mow in the possession of His Hoyal High* 
 ness the Duke of Sussex. In the fine season, the back 
 of the cottage is pleasantly shaded by fresh luxuriant 
 foliage, and here His floyal Highness often retires to 
 ■smoke the social tube, enjoying, with his pipe, a beautiful 
 prospect of the winding stream. The scene to a contem- 
 plative mind must be delightful. 
 
 CImc to the Bridge stands the City Arms Tavern. The 
 proprietor gave on the 23rd of August, 1827, a Wherry 
 
other prizes, to be rowed for by the watemien ^)ii 
 the river. This Regatta, which was contiguous to the 
 Bridge, afforded much pleasure to the admirers of river 
 sports. The House, built of red brick, is a striking 
 object. Looking to the Surrey shore, the view from the 
 water is beautiful. The meadows covered with verdure, 
 and adorned by stately elms, produce in the observer a 
 pleasing sensation. 
 
 The Church of Barnes is a very ancient structure, and 
 forms with Chiswick Church two interesting features of 
 the rural scenery. 
 
 Upon Hammersmith Terrace resided Arthur Murphy 
 the celebrated dramatist. 
 
 In Chiswick Church and the Burying ground, lie the 
 ashes of many persons, illustrious by birth and talents. 
 There is a monument to Hogarth the Painter, with an 
 inscription written by Garrick. 
 
 P. J. De Loutherbourg, the celebrated Painter, and 
 Sharp, the Historical Engraver, are also laid in that 
 cemetery. 
 
 A TABLE, 
 
 Showing the Distance of the Towns, Bridges, from 
 London to Windsor by Water, 
 
 N. B. The Distances are given in Miles and Furlongs. 
 
 London Bridge 
 
 5.0 
 
 8.0 
 10.0 
 
 13.5 
 
 16.5 
 177 
 21.0 
 26.0 
 28.6' 
 33.0 
 37.3 
 -45.7 
 
 Battersea Bridge 
 
 Fulham Bridge 
 
 Hammersmith Bridge 
 
 I6.0|13.0 
 20.0 1 17.0 
 23.6,20.6 
 
 28.6 '25.0 
 
 32.3:29.3 
 
 3.5 
 
 6.5 
 
 7.7 
 
 11.0 
 
 15.0 
 18.6 
 
 23.0 
 
 27.3 
 
 Kew Bridge 
 3.0 1 Richmond Bridge 
 
 40.7 37 7 35 
 
 ^ I 
 
 42 
 
 7.3 
 
 11.3 
 15-1 
 
 19.3 
 23.6 
 32.2 
 
 .2 
 
 4.3 
 
 8.3 
 12.1 
 
 16.3 
 20.6 
 29.2! 
 
 Twickenham Ferry 
 
 3.1 
 
 7.1 
 
 10.7 
 
 15.1 
 19.4 
 
 78.0 
 
 t^ingston Bridge 
 
 Hampton 
 
 3.6 jVValton Bridge 
 8.0 4.2 iCliertscy Bridge 
 12.31 8.51 4.2|Sta:nc« Bridge 
 20.7 117.1 112.7 ’8.4 I Windsor Blridg^ 
 
 Printed by E. Page, Hammersmith* 
 
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