HAMMERSMITH SUSPENSION BRIDGE

A beautiful instance of the triumph of obstinacy over interest, for though it must always have been clear that it would never pay to build it, a body of men were found sufficiently headstrong to lay down their money for the purpose of erecting it. The bridge itself, like the value of the shares, is at a very low pitch, and a vessel passing under it is compelled to lower her chimney on to the heads, or into the laps of her passengers, besides rendering it incumbent on all on board to bend to circumstances, by placing their heads between their knees, during the time occupied in passing under the elegant and commodious structure.

Punch, Jul.-Dec. 1842

HAMMERSMITH SUSPENSION-BRIDGE is one of the most elegant structures of its kind; and, unlike other suspension-bridges, has part of the roadway supported on, and not hanging from, the main chains. The weight of the masonry abutments on each bank is 2160 tons, to resist the pull of the chains. Cost, 80,000l.; engineer, W. Tierney Clarke; first stone laid by the Duke of Sussex, May 7, 1826; finished 1827.

John Timbs, Curiosities of London, 1867

Victorian London - Publications - History - The Queen's London : a Pictorial and Descriptive Record of the Streets, Buildings, Parks and Scenery of the Great Metropolis, 1896 - Hammersmith Bridge, from the South side

HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE, FROM THE SOUTH SIDE.

At Hammersmith the River Thames is spanned by a very graceful Suspension Bridge, which was opened in the summer of 1887 by the late Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence. This bridge serves the district between Putney and Row, a distance of five and a half miles. The parish church, which is, however, of no particular interest, is shown in the picture presented above. Perhaps the most striking feature of Hammersmith, which lies, of course, on the left bank of the river, is the Mall, where are situated houses dating from the reign of Queen Anne. At Hammersmith, too, are the headquarters of various boating clubs. The bridge used to be crowded on the occasion of the Oxford and Cambridge boat-race, but of late years this practice has been forbidden by the authorities.