Battersea Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battersea Bridge |
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| Carries | 2 lanes of A3220 road |
| Crosses | River Thames |
| Locale | London, England |
| Heritage status | Grade II listed structure |
| Preceded by | Old Battersea Bridge (1771–1885) a.k.a. Chelsea Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cantilever bridge |
| Material | Cast iron and granite |
| Total length | 725 feet 6 inches (221.13 m) |
| Width | 40 feet (12 m) |
| Longest span | 163 feet (50 m) |
| Number of spans | 5 |
| Piers in water | 4 |
| Clearance below | 38 feet 9 inches (11.8 m) at lowest astronomical tide |
| History | |
| Designer | Joseph Bazalgette |
| Opened | 21 July 1890 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 26,041 vehicles (2004) |
The Battersea Bridge is a famous bridge in London, England. It crosses the River Thames and connects the areas of Battersea (south of the river) with Chelsea (north of the river). This bridge is made from strong cast iron and granite stone. It has five main sections, called spans, and is a type of bridge known as a cantilever bridge.
It's built on a sharp curve in the river. This makes it a bit tricky for boats to navigate, but it's an important link for traffic in London.
Contents
The First Battersea Bridge
The very first Battersea Bridge was a toll bridge, meaning people had to pay to cross it. Even though a strong stone bridge was planned, a cheaper wooden one was built instead. This happened in the 1770s.
Building the Old Bridge
The first bridge was designed by Henry Holland. It opened for people walking across in November 1771. Vehicles could start using it in 1772. However, this wooden bridge was not designed very well. It was quite dangerous for people using it and for ships passing underneath. Boats often crashed into its supports.
To make it safer for ships, two of the bridge's supports were removed. The parts of the bridge above these gaps were then made stronger with iron beams.
A Famous Wooden Bridge
Even though it was dangerous and not very popular, this bridge was the last wooden bridge left across the Thames in London. It became famous in art. Many well-known painters, like Turner, Cotman, and Whistler, painted pictures of it.
The New Battersea Bridge
In 1879, the old wooden bridge became public property. This meant people no longer had to pay a toll to cross it. The old bridge was then taken down in 1885. A new, stronger bridge was built in its place.
Designing the Modern Bridge
The current Battersea Bridge was designed by Joseph Bazalgette. He was a famous engineer who also designed London's sewer system. The new bridge officially opened on 21 July 1890.
Today, it is the narrowest road bridge still standing over the Thames in London. It is also one of the least busy Thames bridges in the city. Because it's on a sharp bend in the river, the bridge can still be a bit risky for ships. It has been closed many times because boats have collided with it.
A Royal Event
In June 2012, the Battersea Bridge was an important spot during Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Pageant. This was a big celebration on the Thames. The area around Battersea Bridge marked the official starting point for the huge parade of ships and boats that sailed towards Tower Bridge.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Chelsea & Battersea, 1746. The bridge would be built on the meander in the river, a short distance west of the ferry crossing shown
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Old Battersea Bridge, Walter Greaves (1874)
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John, Earl Spencer, commissioned the first Battersea Bridge
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Battersea Bridge, John Atkinson Grimshaw (1885)
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Joseph Bazalgette
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The new Battersea Bridge
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The Thames curves sharply at Battersea Bridge
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Detail of the spandrels following restoration
See also
In Spanish: Puente de Battersea para niños
