Chelsea Bridge
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Chelsea Bridge from the south bank. |
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Chelsea Bridge looking downstream from the north bank. Grosvenor Bridge in background. (January 2006) |
Chelsea Bridge is a self-anchored
suspension bridge for road and foot traffic running north-south over the
River Thames in
London, between
Grosvenor Bridge and the
Albert Bridge. The current bridge was designed by G. Topham Forest and opened on 6 May
1937, replacing an earlier suspension bridge on the same site.
The original bridge was a suspension bridge of some 700ft. with a main span of 350ft., designed by Thomas Page, constructed from
1851 and opened on 28 March
1858. The bridge was conceived of at the same time as and as a compliment to
Battersea Park, and authorised by an
1846 Act of Parliament. It was a toll bridge until
1879.
On the north bank, the bridge forms the boundary between the
Pimlico area of
Westminster to the east and
Chelsea to the west; the
Royal Chelsea Hospital lies 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 east of the bridge, and
Battersea Park to the south west.
Chelsea Bridge, and the famous tea stall now retired to the
London Transport Museum, became a notorious spot in the 1960s as a hang out for the young tearaway motorcyclists called
Rockers drawn to the attractions the unlimited supply of young women coming out of the
Battersea Park Fun Fair. The Fun Fair has long gone but the bridge remains an attraction for both motorcyclists and custom car fans who come to regular cruises and to show off. It is also the namesake of the song "Chelsea Bridge" by
Billy Strayhorn.
*
Crossings of the River Thames* Loobet, Patrick â€"
Battersea Past,
2002, p48. Historical Publications Ltd. ISBN 0948667761
