Upminster Bridge
| Upminster Bridge | |
| Essex | |
|---|---|
_011.jpg) Upminster Bridge over the Ingrebourne | |
| Location | |
| Carrying: | A124 road |
| Crossing: | River Ingrebourne |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TQ552867 |
| Location: | 51°33’28"N, -0°14’23"E |
| Structure | |
| History | |
| Built 1892 | |
| Information | |
Upminster Bridge crosses of the River Ingrebourne in Essex, carrying the A124 road between the two suburban towns the little river separates: Hornchurch and Upminster.
A bridge is known to have existed here since at least 1375,[1] but the current brick bridge is more recent: it was opened in 1892, replacing a series of wooden predecessor bridges. The bridge gave its name to the nearby Upminster Bridge tube station, which opened in 1934.
Name
The bridge has been alternatively known as Bridge House Bridge and Lower Bridge, with Bridge House referring to a house which stood nearby on the current site of Hornchurch Stadium.[1] The name Upminster is first recorded in 1062 as Upmynstre and is recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book.[2]
History
The bridge has existed since at least 1375. It is recorded in 1617 as being in need of repair. The River Ingrebourne formed the boundary between the ancient parishes of Hornchurch and Upminster. However, upkeep of all bridges over the river were the responsibility of the Upminster parish authorities, as Hornchurch claimed exception due to the charter of the Royal Liberty of Havering.[1] The wooden bridge was destroyed and replaced with another after the winter of 1709/10. Replacement wooden carriage bridges were constructed in 1759 and 1827 and an adjacent ford was in use up until the 19th century. A stone and brick structure was completed in 1892[1] and contains a time capsule.[3][4]
Until its last replacement with railings in the 1980s, the bridge used to have two low height cast-iron plated bridge sides that were cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, makers of Big Ben and other bells in the Palace of Westminster.
A nearby pub used to bear the name The Bridge House (but is now called The Windmill, after a brief period being the Hungry Horse).
Outside links
References
- ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 A History of the County of Essex - Volume 6 pp 143-153: Upminster: Introduction and manors (Victoria County History)
- ↑ Mills, D. (2000). Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names. Oxford.
- ↑ Book 10: Roads, Bridges & Inns. The Story of Upminster. March 1960.
- ↑ "Upminster Bridge". Hidden London. http://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/upminster-bridge/.