Battersea Bridge connects Battersea and Chelsea with the first bridge dating from 1771.
The contract to build a new Battersea Bridge to replace its wooden predecessor was awarded to John Mowlem & Company.
In June 1887 the Duke of Clarence laid a ceremonial foundation stone in the southern abutment and construction work began. Joseph Bazalgette’s design incorporated five arches with cast iron griders, on granite piers which rested on concrete foundations. Construction work was overseen by Bazalgette’s son Edward, and cost a total of £143 000.
On 21 July 1890, the bridge was officially opened by future Prime Minister Lord Rosebery, then chairman of the newly formed London County Council. Unlike its predecessor, the new bridge was officially named Battersea Bridge. Although the road was narrow, trams operated on it from the outset.
Although the five spans of the current bridge are far wider than the nineteen spans of the original bridge, Battersea Bridge’s location on a sharp bend in the river still presents a hazard to navigation.
