Westminster Bridge

Why go

The bridge is painted predominantly green, the same colour as the leather seats in the House of Commons which is on the side of the Palace of Westminster nearest to the bridge. Westminster Bridge was designated a Grade II* listed structure in 1981., History For over 600 years, the nearest bridge to London Bridge was at Kingston.

What to look for

• A bridge at Westminster was proposed in 1664, but opposed by the Corporation of London and the watermen.
• William Wordsworth wrote the sonnet Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802.
• The City also commenced work on the Blackfriars Bridge, which opened in 1769.

The full story

In 2005–2007 it underwent a complete refurbishment, including replacing the iron fascias and repainting the whole bridge. The next bridge downstream is the Hungerford footbridge and upstream is Lambeth Bridge. Despite further opposition in 1722, and after a new timber bridge was built at Putney in 1729, the scheme received parliamentary approval in 1736. Financed by private capital, lotteries and grants, Westminster Bridge, designed by the Swiss architect Charles Labelye, was built between 1739–1750. The City of London responded to Westminster Bridge by removing the buildings on London Bridge and widening it in 1760–63. Other bridges from that time include Kew Bridge , Battersea Bridge (1773), and Richmond Bridge (1777). The bridge was required for traffic from the expanding West End to the developing South London as well as to south coast ports.

Your next visit

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