Staines Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Staines Bridge |
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Staines Bridge from upstream
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| Coordinates | 51°26′00″N 0°31′01″W / 51.43327°N 0.51690°W |
| Carries | A308 road, Thames Path |
| Crosses | River Thames |
| Locale | Staines-upon-Thames |
| Maintained by | Surrey County Council |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch |
| Material | Stone |
| Height | 19 feet 6 inches (5.94 m) |
| Number of spans | 3 |
| Piers in water | 2 |
| History | |
| Designer | George Rennie |
| Opened | 1832 |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name | Staines Bridge |
| Designated | 11 August 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1187018 |
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Staines Bridge is a road bridge in Surrey, England. It crosses the River Thames and connects the towns of Staines-upon-Thames and Egham Hythe. The bridge is part of the A308 road. It also carries the Thames Path, a walking trail along the river. This bridge is a very old and important structure, so it is a Grade II listed building. This means it is protected because of its special history and design.
The bridge is located between two locks on the River Thames: Penton Hook Lock and Bell Weir Lock. It is also close to where the River Colne joins the Thames. Over the years, new roads like motorways have been built around Staines. This has helped reduce traffic on the bridge. However, because of the busy towns nearby, the bridge can still get crowded during rush hour.
Contents
History of Staines Bridge
Roman Times and Early Bridges
Long ago, during Roman times, the area where Staines Bridge now stands was called Pontes. This Latin word means "The Bridges," which suggests there was more than one bridge here. These early bridges likely crossed Church Island, River Thames. Staines was an important stop on the Devil's Highway. This was a major Roman road that linked Londinium (which is now London) with places to the west.
The first bridge mentioned in records was made of wood in 1228. It needed repairs often. During the English Civil War, this wooden bridge could not be used.
Building the Current Bridge
In 1791, a new bridge made of stone was built a little downstream from the old wooden one. But its middle arch cracked almost right away! So, a third bridge, made of iron, was finished in 1803. This one also failed. A fourth bridge, also made of iron, opened in 1807. The old wooden bridge, which had been used all this time, was then finally taken down.
The fifth and current bridge is the one you see today. It has three arches and is made of white granite. It was designed by George Rennie. Work on it started in 1827, and it opened in 1832.
Traffic and Modern Roads
From the 1940s to the 1970s, Staines Bridge was a very busy spot. Many people driving from London to the southwest for their summer holidays would get stuck in traffic jams here. Later, new motorways like the M3 and M25 were built. These new roads helped take a lot of the traffic away from the town and the bridge.
Staines Bridge in Stories
The author Bernard Cornwell wrote about a stone bridge at Pontes/Staines in his book Enemy of God. In his story, the bridge had 11 arches. Seven arches went over the river, and two were on land at each end. He imagined a tower at the western end of the bridge with a plaque. This plaque would say that Emperor Hadrian built the bridge. At the eastern end, there was a settlement with earth walls.
The Old Roman Road
The Roman road that went through Staines doesn't have a common name today. However, you can still see its straight path on modern maps. It follows parts of the A30, A315, A402, and Oxford Street towards London Wall in London. It passes through areas like Hounslow, Brentford, Kensington, and Holborn.
West of Staines, this Roman road is known as the Devil's Highway. It runs in a straight line to the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum near Silchester. After the Roman times, the Saxons built their own village nearby and stopped using Calleva.
Other important Roman roads from London include Watling Street (which went to Wroxeter) and Stane Street (which went to Chichester).
