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List of crossings of the River Thames

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

London Bridge, in central London
Newbridge, in rural Oxfordshire

The River Thames is the second-longest river in the United Kingdom, passes through the capital city, and has many crossings.

Counting every channel – such as by its islands linked to only one bank – it is crossed by over 300 bridges. If taking cuts – excavated channels – to be measurements of river, its 185-mile (298 km) course west of Tilbury has 27 tunnels, six public ferries, one cable car link, and one ford. From end to end a channel of the Thames can be seen, mostly its main flow, which is passed over by 138 bridges. These are listed here with 2 former bridges and a seasonal festival bridge. Over 162 other bridges link to such places as typical or man-made islands or across an array of corollary and lesser side channels (backwaters), particularly in and around Oxford and the non-village channel of Ashton Keynes — these are not listed.

The river's lower estuary is shallow – but wide – and has no crossing east of Tilbury, the easternmost half as most broadly defined which even extends to the end of the rivers Medway and Crouch.

Barrier and boundary

[edit]

Until sufficient crossings were established, the river provided a formidable barrier for most of its course – in post-Roman Britain during the Dark Ages Belgic-Celtic tribal lands and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and subdivisions were defined by which side of the river they were on. In the latter's system of English counties continued by predominantly Norman England and for some centuries thereafter, the river formed a mutual limit of counties. After rising in Gloucestershire, the river flows between, on the north bank, the historic counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Middlesex and Essex; and on the south bank, the counties of Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey, and Kent. However the many permanent crossings that have been built over the centuries have changed the dynamics and made cross-river development and shared responsibilities more practicable.

In 1911 Caversham, on the north bank, was transferred into Berkshire. In 1965, with the creation of Greater London, the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames united areas formerly in Middlesex and Surrey; and at the same time two urban districts in Middlesex (united in 1974) became part of Surrey. Further changes in 1974 moved some of the boundaries away from the river. For example, much of the north west of Berkshire including Wallingford, Abingdon and Wantage became part of Oxfordshire, and some southern parts of Buckinghamshire became part of Berkshire, including Slough, Eton and Wraysbury. The number of county councils has fallen (and some others have dwindled in area) in England in favour of increased localisation.[note 1]

Lessening these last changes, in the sports of rowing and skiffing the river banks are referred to by their traditional county names, and in football and cricket the traditional counties also, often, persist.[note 2]

History of crossings

[edit]
Wallingford Bridge (Oxfordshire)

The original crossings over the Thames would all have been fords- typically on gravel beds. Well known ones include Wallingford and Oxford, but it is likely that there was a prehistoric ford where the Romans built London Bridge. In the upper reaches of the Thames, the river depth was raised by dams and in the lower reaches it was raised by embankments, so gradually most fords were lost.[1] At least one regular ford remains, at Duxford.

Many of the present road bridges over the river are on the sites of earlier fords, ferries and wooden structures. The earliest known major crossings of the Thames by the Romans were at London Bridge and Staines Bridge. At Folly Bridge in Oxford the remains of the Saxon forerunner can be seen, and medieval stone ones such as Wallingford, Newbridge in west Oxfordshire and Abingdon Bridges are still in use. In today's south-west London lies Kingston Bridge, which was the only crossing between London Bridge and Staines until the beginning of the 18th century and has been twice widened since its completion.

Proposals to build bridges for Lambeth/Westminster and Putney/Fulham in around 1670 were defeated by the Rulers of the Company of Watermen, since it would cut the trade of the then 60,000 rivermen plying ferry services and who were noted as a pool of naval reserves.[2]

An engraving by Claes Van Visscher showing Old London Bridge in 1616

During the 18th century, many stone and brick instances were built – from new or to replace existing structures – in London and further up the river. These included Westminster, Putney, Datchet, Windsor and Sonning Bridges. Several central London road bridges were built in the 19th century, most conspicuously Tower Bridge, the only bascule bridge on the river, which enables some types of ocean-going ships to pass beneath it. The most recent road bridge sites are the bypasses at Isis Bridge and Marlow By-pass Bridge and for motorways such as the two for the M25: Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and M25 Runnymede Bridge.

The development of the railways resulted in a spate of bridge building in the 19th century, including Blackfriars and Charing Cross (Hungerford) Railway Bridges in central London, and the simple but majestic three, of grand arch design, by Isambard Kingdom Brunel at Maidenhead, Gatehampton and Moulsford.

The world's first underwater tunnel was the Thames Tunnel by Marc Brunel built in 1843, designed for horse-drawn carriages but used as a pedestrian route; since 1869 the tunnel has carried trains on the East London Line. The Tower Subway (1870) was briefly used for a railway; later came all the deep-level tube lines. Two road tunnels were built in East London at the end of the 19th century, the Blackwall Tunnel and the Rotherhithe Tunnel; and the latest tunnel is the Dartford Crossing.

Many footbridges were made across the weirs that were built on the non-tidal river, and some of these remained when the locks were built, such as at Benson Lock. Some, above Oxford, have survived when the weir was lost, as at Hart's Weir Footbridge. Around the year 2000 several were added, as part of the Thames Path or for the Millennium. These include Temple, Bloomers Hole, the Hungerford Footbridges and the Millennium Bridge in distinct, aesthetic but durable, forms.

Six ferries cross the river:

Note on the listing

[edit]

The list is from the estuary to the source. A few of the crossings listed are public foot bridges using walkways across lock gates and then bridges parallel to or on top of the associated weir(s) to the non-lock-associated bank. Most of the other locks on the River Thames also have walkways across their lock gates and/or weirs, but these do not completely cross the river, or are restricted to authorised personnel only, and are therefore not listed.

Also operating are boat services, ranging from year-round in London to seven or fewer months (including the summer) serving upper stretches. Whilst their main purpose is not to carry people across the river, several bring about one or more crossings but usually not to points facing each other.

North Sea to London

[edit]
Crossing Type Coordinates Opened Notes Photo
Thames Cable Tunnel Edit this on WikidataUtility tunnel51°26′35″N 0°24′22″E1970Carries two 400kV circuits;[5][6] accessible by authorised personnel only
Gravesend–Tilbury Ferry Edit this on WikidataFerry route51°26′55″N 0°22′3″E1571 or before[7]Foot/bicycle ferry. Ferry service discontinued March 2024.[8]
400 kV Thames Crossing Edit this on WikidataOverhead power line crossing51°27′53″N 0°17′48″E1965Overhead power line 623 ft tall crossing the Thames at Swanscombe and Grays
High Speed 1 tunnels Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°27′46″N 0°17′37″E2007Two 2.5 km tunnels, 7.15 m internal diameter, between West Thurrock (Essex) and Swanscombe (Kent)
Queen Elizabeth II Bridge Edit this on WikidataCable-stayed bridge, road bridge51°27′52″N 0°15′30″E30 Oct 1991Cable-stayed bridge – the southbound element of the Dartford Crossing
Dartford Tunnel (eastern) Edit this on WikidataRoad tunnel51°27′54″N 0°15′29″EMay 1980
Dartford Tunnel (western) Edit this on WikidataRoad tunnel51°27′55″N 0°15′27″E18 Nov 1963
Dartford Cable Tunnel Edit this on WikidataUtility tunnel51°28′5″N 0°14′58″E2005Carrying electrical cable; accessible by authorised personnel only

Proposed

[edit]
  • The Grain to Tilbury cable tunnel is a utility tunnel proposed by National Grid to replace the Thames Cable Tunnel, which is reaching the end of its service life.[9]
  • The Lower Thames Crossing is an awaiting-planning-consent road tunnel close to the Thames Cable Tunnel that may open in 2028.[10]
  • KenEx tunnel  is a proposed tunnel to carry trams between Kent and Essex, as part of a proposed KenEx Transit network.[11]

East London

[edit]
Crossing Type Coordinates Opened Notes Photo
Barking cable tunnel Edit this on WikidataUtility tunnel51°30′43″N 0°6′33″E1920s[13]Carries four 33 kV electricity circuits from Barking substation to Sewell Road substation, Thamesmead[12]
Docklands Light Railway tunnel Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°29′55″N 0°4′31″E2009Between King George V and Woolwich Arsenal stations
Crossrail tunnels Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°29′48″N 0°3′50″E2014[15]Completed in 2014,[14] part of the Elizabeth line, opened to the public in 2022.
Woolwich foot tunnel Edit this on WikidataPedestrian tunnel51°29′56″N 0°3′42″E26 Oct 1912
Woolwich Ferry Edit this on WikidataFerry route51°29′46″N 0°3′43″E23 Mar 1889
Thames Barrier Edit this on WikidataFlood barrier51°29′52″N 0°2′12″E1984Service tunnel accessible by authorised personnel only
London cable car Edit this on WikidataGondola lift, public transport route51°30′10″N 0°0′42″E28 Jun 2012
Millennium Dome cable tunnel Edit this on WikidataUtility tunnel1999Accessible by authorised personnel only
Jubilee line tunnels Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°30′17″N 0°0′31″E1999Between North Greenwich and Canning Town stations.
Blackwall Tunnel (eastern) Edit this on WikidataRoad tunnel51°30′19″N 0°0′7″W1967For southbound vehicular traffic only
Blackwall Tunnel (western) Edit this on WikidataRoad tunnel51°30′13″N 0°0′14″W22 May 1897[16]For northbound vehicular traffic only
Isle of Dogs Jubilee line tunnels Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°30′1″N 0°0′19″W1999Between Canary Wharf and North Greenwich stations.
Greenwich foot tunnel Edit this on WikidataPedestrian tunnel51°29′0″N 0°0′37″W1899
Docklands Light Railway tunnel Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°29′5″N 0°0′37″W1999Between Island Gardens and Cutty Sark stations.
Deptford cable tunnel Edit this on WikidataUtility tunnel51°29′11″N 0°1′18″WCarries 30 11 kV electricity circuits[17]
Jubilee line tunnels Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°30′2″N 0°1′48″W1999Between Canada Water and Canary Wharf stations.
Canary Wharf – Rotherhithe Ferry Edit this on WikidataFerry route51°30′17″N 0°1′55″W
Rotherhithe Tunnel Edit this on WikidataRoad tunnel, pedestrian tunnel51°30′23″N 0°2′55″W12 Jun 1908Single carriageway in each direction, with footways on each side. Built originally for horse-drawn carriages. Pedestrians, riders, cyclists are permitted, but advised to use alternatives due to fumes and speed.
Thames Tunnel Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°30′11″N 0°3′16″W[18]1843The world's first underwater tunnel, linking Wapping to Rotherhithe. Originally designed as a road tunnel for horse-drawn traffic, the necessary access ramps were never built and it was opened as a pedestrian tunnel. It was converted to a rail tunnel, reopening in 1869 and becoming part of the London Overground network in 2010.
New Cross to Finsbury Market Cable Tunnel Edit this on WikidataUtility tunnel51°29′3″N 0°3′31″W, 51°30′7″N 0°3′44″W2017Carries three 132 kV electricity circuits[19]

Under construction

[edit]
  • The Silvertown Tunnel began construction in August 2020[20] and should be completed in 2025.[21] This will relieve the Blackwall Tunnels between the Greenwich Peninsula and West Silvertown and to allow larger HGVs and double-decker buses to cross the river at this point.

Proposed

[edit]

Central London

[edit]
Crossing Type Coordinates Opened Notes Photo
Tower Bridge Edit this on WikidataBascule bridge, steel bridge, road bridge, tourist attraction, suspension bridge51°30′20″N 0°4′31″W21 Jun 1886
Tower Subway Edit this on WikidataUtility tunnel, tube railway (until Dec 1870), pedestrian tunnel (from Dec 1870)51°30′30″N 0°4′44″W2 Aug 1870Formerly an underground railway – now used for water mains and telephone cables and accessible only by authorised personnel
Northern Line (Bank branch) tunnels Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°30′28″N 0°5′13″W1900Between London Bridge and Bank
London Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge, prestressed concrete bridge, arch bridge, box girder bridge, Roman bridge51°30′29″N 0°5′16″W16 Mar 1973[23]Other bridges have stood on or near this site since around AD 50
City & South London Railway tunnels Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°30′29″N 0°5′20″W1890This railway's original crossing of the river between Borough and King William Street; abandoned in 1900 when the Northern line City branch tunnels were opened on a new alignment
Cannon Street Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataGirder bridge, steel bridge, railway bridge51°30′30″N 0°5′31″W1883
Southwark Bridge Edit this on WikidataSteel bridge, road bridge, arch bridge51°30′32″N 0°5′40″W1921
Millennium Bridge Edit this on WikidataSuspension bridge, footbridge51°30′37″N 0°5′54″W10 Jun 2000
Bankside Cable Tunnel Edit this on WikidataUtility tunnel51°30′35″N 0°5′56″W1940sEast of Blackfriars rail bridge, 132 kV and 33 kV electricity circuits[24]
Blackfriars Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataSteel bridge, arch bridge[25], truss bridge, railway bridge51°30′35″N 0°6′12″W1886
Blackfriars Bridge Edit this on WikidataSteel bridge, road bridge, arch bridge, tram bridge (from 1909 until Jul 1952)51°30′35″N 0°6′16″W1869
Waterloo & City line tunnels Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°30′35″N 0°6′20″W1898Between Waterloo and Bank
Waterloo Bridge Edit this on Wikidatabox girder bridge, girder bridge, road bridge, Zone 3 A road51°30′31″N 0°7′1″W1945, 18 Jun 1817
Northern line (Charing Cross branch) tunnels Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°30′23″N 0°7′10″W1926Between Waterloo and Embankment
Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges Edit this on WikidataSteel bridge, footbridge, railway bridge, cable-stayed bridge51°30′22″N 0°7′12″W1845Rail bridge incorporating newer pedestrian paths on either side
Bakerloo line tunnels Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°30′20″N 0°7′14″W1906Between Waterloo and Embankment
Bankside–Charing Cross cable tunnel Edit this on WikidataUtility tunnel51°30′22″N 0°7′13″WUnderneath Hungerford Bridge[24]
Jubilee Line Extension tunnels Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°30′4″N 0°7′18″W1999Between Waterloo and Westminster
Westminster Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge, arch bridge, tram bridge (from 1909 until Jul 1952)51°30′3″N 0°7′19″W[26][27]24 May 1862, 18 Nov 1750
Lambeth Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge, arch bridge51°29′41″N 0°7′26″W[28]12 May 1932
Vauxhall Bridge Edit this on WikidataDeck arch bridge, steel bridge, road bridge, tram bridge (from 1906 until Jan 1952)51°29′15″N 0°7′37″W1816
Victoria line tunnels Edit this on WikidataRailway tunnel51°29′14″N 0°7′39″W1971Between Vauxhall and Pimlico
Wimbledon – Pimlico cable tunnel Edit this on WikidataUtility tunnel51°29′10″N 0°7′42″W1996Electricity cables[29]
Battersea steam tunnel Edit this on WikidataUtility tunnel51°29′3″N 0°8′31″W20th centuryBetween Battersea and Pimlico is a single tunnel carrying four pipes, two 30" Thames Water mains and two 11" pipes feeding the Pimlico District Heating system, originally powered by Battersea Power Station.[30]
Battersea exhaust tunnels Edit this on WikidataUtility tunnel51°29′2″N 0°8′48″W1920sBetween Battersea and either side of Victoria are two tunnels. Tunnels are labelled 'A' and 'B'; A splits further to become 'C' under Ranelagh Gardens.[citation needed]
Grosvenor Bridge Edit this on WikidataSteel bridge, railway bridge, arch bridge51°29′5″N 0°8′51″W1860Also known as Victoria Railway Bridge

Former

[edit]

Planned

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South West London

[edit]
Crossing Type Co-ordinates Date opened Notes Photo
Chelsea Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge, suspension bridge51°29′5″N 0°9′0″W6 May 1937[36]
Albert Bridge Edit this on WikidataSuspension bridge, beam bridge, Ordish–Lefeuvre system, steel bridge, road bridge51°28′57″N 0°10′0″W[37]1873
Battersea Bridge Edit this on WikidataArch bridge[38], iron bridge[38], tram bridge (from 1909 until 1950)51°28′52″N 0°10′21″W21 Jul 1890Replaced an earlier bridge, opened in 1771.
Battersea Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataSteel bridge, arch bridge, railway bridge51°28′24″N 0°10′48″W[39][40]2 Mar 1863West London Line. Also called the Cremorne Bridge.
Wandsworth Bridge Edit this on WikidataCantilever bridge, steel bridge, road bridge51°27′54″N 0°11′17″W25 Sep 1940
London Power Tunnels Edit this on WikidataUtility tunnel51°27′47″N 0°11′35″W / 51.463°N 0.193°W / 51.463; -0.193 (London Power Tunnels Wimbledon - Kensal Green)2018, 2011Wimbledon – Kensal Green
Fulham Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataRailway bridge, footbridge, truss bridge51°27′57″N 0°12′35″W3 Jun 1889
Putney Bridge Edit this on WikidataStone bridge, road bridge, tram bridge (from 1909 until 1935), arch bridge51°28′0″N 0°12′48″W[42][43]1729Replaced an earlier bridge, known as Fulham Bridge, opened in 1729.
This is the downstream limit of the Thames towpath.[41]
Hammersmith Bridge Edit this on WikidataSuspension bridge[44], road bridge51°29′20″N 0°13′47″W[45][46]1827As of August 2020, Hammersmith Bridge is closed, with river navigation beneath also prohibited.
Barnes Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataTruss arch bridge, steel bridge, arch bridge, railway bridge, footbridge51°28′22″N 0°15′14″W1895
Chiswick Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge, reinforced concrete bridge, arch bridge51°28′23″N 0°16′11″W[47]3 Jul 1933
Kew Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataRailway bridge, truss bridge, girder bridge51°29′2″N 0°16′46″W1 Jan 1869
Kew Bridge Edit this on Wikidataarch bridge, Stone bridge, road bridge51°29′13″N 0°17′15″W1903
Richmond Lock and Footbridge Edit this on Wikidatafootbridge, arch bridge, Lock51°27′44″N 0°19′2″W1894
Twickenham Bridge Edit this on WikidataArch bridge, road bridge51°27′38″N 0°18′52″W3 Jul 1933
Richmond Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataSteel bridge, arch bridge, railway bridge51°27′36″N 0°18′49″W1848
Richmond Bridge Edit this on WikidataBridge51°27′26″N 0°18′26″W1777
Hammerton's Ferry Edit this on WikidataFerry route51°26′48″N 0°18′50″W1909From Marble Hill House, Twickenham to Ham House, Ham.
Teddington Lock Footbridges Edit this on WikidataIron bridge, suspension bridge, girder bridge, footbridge51°25′50″N 0°19′18″W1889The Thames Path crosses these bridges; downstream there are paths on both sides of the river until the Greenwich foot tunnel.
Kingston Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataArch bridge, railway bridge51°24′49″N 0°18′30″W1863
Kingston Bridge Edit this on WikidataStone bridge, road bridge, arch bridge, toll bridge (until Mar 1870)51°24′40″N 0°18′31″W[48][49]17 Jul 1828The Thames Path crosses this bridge.
Hampton Court Bridge Edit this on WikidataConcrete bridge, steel bridge, road bridge, arch bridge51°24′14″N 0°20′33″W1933From Hampton Court to East Molesey. The Thames Path crosses this bridge.
Hampton Ferry Edit this on WikidataFerry route51°24′43″N 0°21′45″W1519From Hampton to Hurst Park, East Molesey.

Planned

[edit]

London to Windsor

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Crossing Type Co-ordinates Date opened Notes Photo
Sunbury Ferry Edit this on WikidataFerry route51°24′20″N 0°24′21″W2019April to November
Walton Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°23′15″N 0°25′52″W2013
Shepperton to Weybridge Ferry Edit this on WikidataPassenger ferry51°22′57″N 0°27′25″W16th centuryThe only ferry on any form of the Thames Path – and the most upstream
Chertsey Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°23′20″N 0°29′11″W[50][51][52]1785
M3 Chertsey Bridge Edit this on WikidataHighway bridge51°23′39″N 0°29′12″W1971Carrying the M3 motorway
Staines Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataRailway bridge51°25′50″N 0°30′40″W1856Built by the London and South Western Railway. Carries the Waterloo to Reading Line.
Staines Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°26′0″N 0°31′1″W1832Bridges continuously recorded near this site since 1228.
Runnymede Bridge Edit this on WikidataHighway bridge51°26′15″N 0°32′5″W1961Carrying the M25 motorway and, on the older part of the bridge, the A30; widened in 1983 and 2005.
Albert Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°28′17″N 0°35′3″W1927Replaced a cast-iron bridge built in 1850–51.
Victoria Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°29′16″N 0°35′29″W1967Replacing an 1851 bridge.
Black Potts Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataRailway bridge51°29′33″N 0°35′49″W1850
Windsor Bridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge (from 1970), bicycle bridge51°29′9″N 0°36′30″W1 Jun 1824Bridges recorded on this site since 1172. Pedestrian/cycle bridge since 1970.
Windsor Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataRailway bridge51°29′11″N 0°37′5″W[53]1849
Queen Elizabeth Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°29′12″N 0°37′23″W1966

Former

[edit]
  • The Datchet Bridge, built in 1707, was demolished in 1848, and replaced by the Albert and Victoria bridges.

Windsor to Reading

[edit]
Crossing Type Co-ordinates Date opened Notes Image
Summerleaze Footbridge Edit this on WikidataWooden bridge, footbridge51°29′59″N 0°40′54″W1992
M4 Thames Bridge Edit this on WikidataHighway bridge51°30′24″N 0°41′9″W1961Carrying the M4 Motorway; incorporates a footbridge
Maidenhead Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataRailway bridge51°31′16″N 0°42′6″W1838Carrying the Great Western Main Line.
Maidenhead Bridge Edit this on WikidataBridge51°31′26″N 0°42′7″W1777Bridge recorded 1280.
Taplow Bridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°32′0″N 0°41′55″W2018Newest Thames crossing.
Cookham Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°33′44″N 0°42′21″W1867
Bourne End Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataRailway bridge, footbridge51°34′30″N 0°42′51″W1895Footbridge added onto the rail bridge specifically for the Thames Path.
Marlow By-pass Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°33′58″N 0°45′43″W1972Carries the A404 road between Maidenhead and High Wycombe.
Marlow Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°34′2″N 0°46′23″W[54][55]1832Replaced bridge built in 1530.
Temple Footbridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°33′7″N 0°47′49″W1989Temple Footbridge was built in 1989 specifically for the Thames Path.
Hambleden Lock Edit this on WikidataLock, footbridge51°33′37″N 0°52′24″W1884
Henley Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°32′15″N 0°54′1″W1786Earlier bridge dates from at least 1232.
Shiplake Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataRailway bridge51°30′7″N 0°52′41″W1897
Sonning Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°28′33″N 0°54′50″W[56][57]1775Earlier bridge recorded 1530 and one in 1125.
Sonning Backwater Bridges Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°28′36″N 0°54′57″W1986
Caversham Lock and Weir Edit this on WikidataLock, footbridge, weir51°27′39″N 0°57′51″W1875
Reading Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°27′39″N 0°58′5″W1923
Christchurch Bridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge, bicycle bridge, cable-stayed bridge51°27′44″N 0°58′13″W30 Sep 2015
Caversham Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°27′57″N 0°58′38″W1926Earliest bridge on site recorded in 1231.

Former

[edit]
  • A footbridge was built in 2012, for the London Olympics, to enable spectators of the rowing events held at Dorney Lake to gain access from Windsor Racecourse. It was removed after the Olympics.[58]

Reading to Oxford

[edit]
Crossing Type Co-ordinates Date opened Notes Photo
Reading Festival bridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°28′2″N 1°0′43″W2008Temporarily erected each year on permanent footings for the period of the annual Reading Festival; accessible to festival ticket-holders and other authorised personnel only
Whitchurch Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°29′13″N 1°5′7″W1902Toll bridge
Gatehampton Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataArch bridge, railway bridge51°30′42″N 1°7′40″W[59]1838
Goring and Streatley Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°31′23″N 1°8′33″W1923
Moulsford Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataArch bridge, railway bridge51°33′30″N 1°8′33″W[60]1839
Winterbrook Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°35′18″N 1°7′24″W1993
Wallingford Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°36′2″N 1°7′10″W[61][62]1809Bridge recorded 1141.
Benson Lock Edit this on WikidataLock, footbridge51°36′59″N 1°7′3″W
Shillingford Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°37′27″N 1°8′22″W, 51°37′28″N 1°8′22″W[63][64]1827Replaced bridge built 1763.
Little Wittenham Bridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°38′15″N 1°10′47″W1870
Day's Lock Edit this on WikidataLock, footbridge51°38′18″N 1°10′45″W
Clifton Hampden Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°39′16″N 1°12′38″W1867
Appleford Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataRailway bridge51°38′38″N 1°14′27″W1927
Sutton Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°38′59″N 1°15′56″W[65][66]1807
Sutton Pools footbridges Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°38′45″N 1°16′34″WLinking four islands in the river course
Culham Cut Bridge Edit this on WikidataBridge51°39′2″N 1°15′58″W[67]A bridge across the weir on the Culham Cut, west of Culham Lock
Culham Lock Edit this on WikidataLock, footbridge51°39′1″N 1°16′3″WOther bridges cross the main river channel
Abingdon Bridge Edit this on WikidataArch bridge, road bridge51°40′6″N 1°16′45″W[68]1416
Abingdon Lock Edit this on WikidataLock, footbridge51°40′14″N 1°16′9″W
Nuneham Viaduct Edit this on WikidataRailway bridge, bowstring arch truss bridge[69]51°40′10″N 1°14′27″W1929
Sandford Lock Edit this on WikidataLock, footbridge51°42′29″N 1°13′59″W
Kennington Railway Bridge Edit this on WikidataRailway bridge51°43′17″N 1°14′32″W1923
Isis Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°43′30″N 1°14′30″W1965
Iffley Lock Edit this on WikidataLock, footbridge51°43′43″N 1°14′25″W
Donnington Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°44′8″N 1°14′31″W1962
Folly Bridge Edit this on WikidataDeck arch bridge51°44′47″N 1°15′23″W[70]1827Stone bridge built 1085
Grandpont Bridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°44′50″N 1°15′39″W1930s
Gasworks Bridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°44′47″N 1°15′49″W1886Originally built to carry a rail line to the Oxford Gasworks, which closed in 1960.
Osney Rail Bridge Edit this on WikidataRailway bridge51°44′50″N 1°16′2″W1850, 1887Two adjacent bridges
Osney Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°45′10″N 1°16′23″W1889

Planned

[edit]
  • Oxpens River Bridge (between Gasworks and Osney Rail Bridges in Oxford, 51°44'50.2"N 1°15'56.0"W) a footbridge, for completion in 2025.[71]

Oxford to Cricklade

[edit]
Crossing Type Co-ordinates Date opened Notes Photo
Medley Footbridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°45′50″N 1°16′49″W[72]1865Also called Rainbow footbridge.
Tank footbridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°45′45″N 1°16′45″WSep 1947[73]
Godstow Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°46′46″N 1°17′59″W[74]1792A previous bridge was held by the Royalists in 1645.
A34 Road Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°46′52″N 1°18′12″W1961
King's Lock Edit this on WikidataLock, footbridge51°47′21″N 1°18′25″W1928
Eynsham Lock Edit this on WikidataLock, footbridge51°46′27″N 1°21′28″W1928Permissive
Swinford Toll Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°46′28″N 1°21′33″W[75][76]1769
Pinkhill Lock Edit this on WikidataLock, footbridge51°45′37″N 1°21′49″W1791
Hart's Weir Footbridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°42′23″N 1°23′36″W1879
New Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°42′35″N 1°25′2″W[78][79][80]1250[77]
Duxford ford Edit this on WikidataFord51°41′55″N 1°27′58″WThe ford crosses the original river channel to an island formed on its other side by the Shifford Lock Cut, which is crossed by a footbridge. There is no footbridge across the original river channel, which must be forded by pedestrians.
Shifford Lock Edit this on WikidataLock, footbridge51°42′23″N 1°27′57″W
Tenfoot Bridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°41′39″N 1°29′24″W1869
Tadpole Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°42′6″N 1°31′2″W[81]1784
Rushey Lock Edit this on WikidataLock, footbridge51°41′52″N 1°32′3″W1790
Old Man's Bridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°42′0″N 1°34′6″W1894
Radcot Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°41′34″N 1°35′18″W[82][83][84]1787
Eaton Footbridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°41′8″N 1°38′40″W1936
Buscot Lock Edit this on WikidataLock, footbridge51°40′49″N 1°40′7″W1790
Bloomers Hole Footbridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°41′12″N 1°40′33″W2000Built in 2000 for the Thames Path.
St. John's Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°41′23″N 1°40′44″W1886
Halfpenny Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°41′32″N 1°41′34″W[85][86]1792The upstream limit of the navigable Thames.
Inglesham Footbridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°41′18″N 1°42′16″W1996The original towpath extends upstream to this point, by the connection with the now disused Thames and Severn Canal.
Hannington Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°39′48″N 1°44′57″W1841
Castle Eaton Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°39′39″N 1°47′34″W1893
Water Eaton House Bridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°38′39″N 1°49′20″WDescribed in 1896 as a small occupation bridge for pedestrians and cattle.[87]
Eysey Footbridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°38′43″N 1°50′17″W
A419 Road Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°38′34″N 1°50′43″W1988
Abingdon Court Lane Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°38′37″N 1°51′6″W20th centuryFor sewage works & cricket club: accessible to authorised personnel only.
Cricklade Town Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°38′40″N 1°51′17″W1852

Cricklade to the source

[edit]

Not all of the bridges above Cricklade are listed below. For example, there are a number of small agricultural bridges allowing access between fields, and bridges to properties in Ashton Keynes that are not mentioned.

Crossing Type Co-ordinates Date opened Notes Photo
Aqueduct footings footbridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge, navigable aqueduct51°39′5″N 1°52′31″WSite of a former aqueduct carrying the North Wilts Canal over the Thames.
Midland and South Western Junction Railway bridge Edit this on WikidataRailway bridge, footbridge51°39′4″N 1°52′55″WFormerly a bridge for the Midland and South Western Junction Railway.
Stones Lane footbridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°38′57″N 1°53′11″WFootbridge at Hailstone House.
Manor Farm bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°38′23″N 1°54′14″WNorth of Manor Farm, Waterhay.
Brook Farm bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°38′22″N 1°54′28″WNorth of Brook Farm, Waterhay.
Waterhay bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°38′17″N 1°54′53″W
Unnamed footbridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°38′20″N 1°55′25″WThe footbridge and a ford carry a bridlepath over the river, just outside Ashton Keynes.
Bridge on High Road Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°38′25″N 1°55′51″WBridge on High Road, Ashton Keynes
Bridge on The Derry Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°38′30″N 1°55′56″WBridge on The Derry, Ashton Keynes
Bridge on Gosditch, Ashton Keynes Road bridge 51°38′42″N 1°56′7″W / 51.64500°N 1.93528°W / 51.64500; -1.93528 (Bridge on Gosditch, Ashton Keynes)
Bridge on Church Walk, Ashton Keynes Road bridge 51°38′48″N 1°56′10″W / 51.64667°N 1.93611°W / 51.64667; -1.93611 (Bridge on Church Walk, Ashton Keynes)
Bridge on Church Lane, Ashton Keynes Road bridge 51°38′48″N 1°56′14″W / 51.64667°N 1.93722°W / 51.64667; -1.93722 (Bridge on Church Lane, Ashton Keynes)
Bridge on B4696, Ashton Keynes Road bridge 51°38′46″N 1°56′31″W / 51.64611°N 1.94194°W / 51.64611; -1.94194 (Bridge on B4696, Ashton Keynes)
Bridges Road bridge and pedestrian bridge 51°38′46″N 1°56′56″W / 51.64611°N 1.94889°W / 51.64611; -1.94889 (Bridges)
Bridge Road bridge 51°38′43″N 1°57′38″W / 51.64528°N 1.96056°W / 51.64528; -1.96056 (Bridge)
Footbridge Pedestrian bridge 51°38′48″N 1°57′46″W / 51.64667°N 1.96278°W / 51.64667; -1.96278 (Footbridge)
Bridge Road bridge 51°38′51″N 1°57′58″W / 51.64750°N 1.96611°W / 51.64750; -1.96611 (Bridge)
Bridge Road bridge 51°38′52″N 1°58′2″W / 51.64778°N 1.96722°W / 51.64778; -1.96722 (Bridge)
Bridge Road bridge 51°38′54″N 1°58′8″W / 51.64833°N 1.96889°W / 51.64833; -1.96889 (Bridge)
Footbridge Pedestrian bridge 51°38′59″N 1°58′17″W / 51.64972°N 1.97139°W / 51.64972; -1.97139 (Footbridge)
Bridge Road bridge 51°39′2″N 1°58′24″W / 51.65056°N 1.97333°W / 51.65056; -1.97333 (Bridge)
Neigh Bridge Road bridge 51°39′6″N 1°58′29″W / 51.65167°N 1.97472°W / 51.65167; -1.97472 (Neigh Bridge)
Bridge south of Ewen Road bridge 51°40′27″N 1°59′44″W / 51.67417°N 1.99556°W / 51.67417; -1.99556 (Bridge south of Ewen)
Parker's Bridge, Ewen Road bridge 51°40′31″N 2°0′25″W / 51.67528°N 2.00694°W / 51.67528; -2.00694 (Parker's Bridge, Ewen)
A429 Road Bridge Road bridge 51°40′47″N 2°0′53″W / 51.67972°N 2.01472°W / 51.67972; -2.01472 (A429 Road Bridge) Demolished bridge on the currently closed Cirencester Branch Line ran over the road. Part of the Beeching Axe legacy.
A433 Road Bridge, Fosse Way Roman Road Road bridge 51°41′24″N 2°1′21″W / 51.69000°N 2.02250°W / 51.69000; -2.02250 (A433 Road Bridge) At Thames Head

The river splits as it passes through Ashton Keynes. An alternative route to that listed above crosses High Bridge at 51°38′13″N 1°55′46″W / 51.63694°N 1.92944°W / 51.63694; -1.92944 (High Bridge, Ashton Keynes) and Three Bridges at 51°38′18″N 1°56′21″W / 51.63833°N 1.93917°W / 51.63833; -1.93917 (Three Bridges, Ashton Keynes).

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ For example Berkshire County Council and Middlesex County Council were abolished and smaller authorities have been created in the counties adjoining the Thames, from the Borough of Swindon unitary authority to Medway Council on the Thames Estuary.
  2. ^ e.g. Buckinghamshire County Cricket Club, Middlesex County Football Association and Middlesex County Cricket Club

References

[edit]
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Further reading

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[edit]