Grosvenor Bridge
Encyclopedia
Grosvenor Bridge, often alternatively called Victoria Railway Bridge, is a railway bridge over the River Thames
in London
, between Vauxhall Bridge
and Chelsea Bridge
. It actually consists of two bridges, both built in the mid-19th century. The eastern side was built by the Victoria Station and Pimlico Railway
, (a consortium of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway, the London, Chatham and Dover Railway
, the Great Western Railway
and the London and North Western Railway
) in 1858 to 60 to carry trains into Victoria station
; it was the first railway bridge across the Thames in central London. The western side was built by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
in 1865 to 66 to provide their own independent line to the station. The designers were Sir John Fowler and Sir Charles Fox
for the two bridges respectively.
Both bridges were rebuilt in steel in 1963–67, the original piers now being encased in concrete. The designer for this work was Freeman Fox & Partners
, and the project engineer was A. H. Cantrell, chief civil engineer of the Southern Region of British Rail. To avoid disrupting traffic, the bridges were re-built as 8 separate parallel bridges.
On the north bank is Pimlico
to the north and east and Chelsea
to the west; the Lister Hospital and the Royal Chelsea Hospital lie immediately to the north west. On the south bank is Nine Elms
to the east and Battersea
to the west. Battersea Power Station
is immediately to the south of the bridge, and Battersea Park
to the south west.
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, between Vauxhall Bridge
Vauxhall Bridge
Vauxhall Bridge is a Grade II* listed steel and granite deck arch bridge in central London. It crosses the River Thames in a south–east north–west direction between Vauxhall on the south bank and Pimlico on the north bank...
and Chelsea Bridge
Chelsea Bridge
Chelsea Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames in west London, connecting Chelsea on the north bank to Battersea on the south bank. There have been two Chelsea Bridges, on the site of what was an ancient ford....
. It actually consists of two bridges, both built in the mid-19th century. The eastern side was built by the Victoria Station and Pimlico Railway
Victoria Station and Pimlico Railway
The Victoria Station and Pimlico Railway was an early British railway company which was incorporated by Act of Parliament 23rd July 1858. to build a railway line connecting the existing London Brighton and South Coast Railway terminus in Battersea to a new terminal at London Victoria station in...
, (a consortium of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway, the London, Chatham and Dover Railway
London, Chatham and Dover Railway
The London, Chatham and Dover Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1859 until the 1923 grouping which united it with other companies to form the Southern Railway. Its lines ran through London and northern and eastern Kent to form a significant part of the Greater London...
, the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
and the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
) in 1858 to 60 to carry trains into Victoria station
Victoria station (London)
Victoria station, also known as London Victoria, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. It is named after nearby Victoria Street and not Queen Victoria. It is the second busiest railway terminus in London after Waterloo, and includes an air terminal for passengers...
; it was the first railway bridge across the Thames in central London. The western side was built by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
in 1865 to 66 to provide their own independent line to the station. The designers were Sir John Fowler and Sir Charles Fox
Sir Charles Fox
Sir Charles Fox was an English civil engineer and contractor. His work focused on railways, railway stations and bridges.-Biography:...
for the two bridges respectively.
Both bridges were rebuilt in steel in 1963–67, the original piers now being encased in concrete. The designer for this work was Freeman Fox & Partners
Hyder Consulting
Hyder Consulting is a multi-national advisory and design consultancy with particular specialisation in the transport, property, utilities and environmental sectors. The firm employs approximately 4,200 people across the UK, Europe, Germany, Middle East, Asia and Australia and has been listed on the...
, and the project engineer was A. H. Cantrell, chief civil engineer of the Southern Region of British Rail. To avoid disrupting traffic, the bridges were re-built as 8 separate parallel bridges.
On the north bank is Pimlico
Pimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
to the north and east and Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
to the west; the Lister Hospital and the Royal Chelsea Hospital lie immediately to the north west. On the south bank is Nine Elms
Nine Elms
Nine Elms is a suburb of London, situated in the far north-eastern corner of the London Borough of Wandsworth between Battersea and Vauxhall.It is primarily an industrial area, dominated by Battersea Power Station, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, railway lines, a major Royal Mail sorting office and...
to the east and Battersea
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
to the west. Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station is a decommissioned coal-fired power station located on the south bank of the River Thames, in Battersea, South London. The station comprises two individual power stations, built in two stages in the form of a single building. Battersea A Power Station was built first in the...
is immediately to the south of the bridge, and Battersea Park
Battersea Park
Battersea Park is a 200 acre green space at Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth in England. It is situated on the south bank of the River Thames opposite Chelsea, and was opened in 1858....
to the south west.
See also
- Crossings of the River ThamesCrossings of the River ThamesThis is a list of crossings of the River Thames including bridges, tunnels and ferries. There are 214 bridges, over 20 tunnels, six public ferries and one ford.-Barrier and boundary:...