BLACKFRIARS

HE present or New Blackfriars Bridge dates only from 1869, replacing a former structure, the work of Robert Mylne, surveyor of St. Paul's Cathedral. That bridge when first opened was by an order of the Common Council originally called Pitt's Bridge, after William Pitt, the great Earl of Chatham. This name, however, was soon dropped.

The old bridge was completed and publicly opened in November, 1769.  It consisted of nine elliptical arches forming a combined length of 995 feet from the Middlesex shore to that of Surrey. Its erection occupied a period of ten years and nine months, costing 152,840 pounds, less by 163 pounds than the original estimate.

The present or New Blackfriars Bridge was commenced in the year 1862 from designs of Mr. Joseph Cubitt. The entire work was completed and the bridge publicly opened by Her Majesty in November, 1869. The style of architecture -- termed Venetian-Gothic -- well suits the object of the design, which consists of five arches constructed principally of iron resting upon granite piers, the centre arch with a span of 185 feet, those immediately on either side being 175 feet, and the two end or abutment arches 155 feet; the centre piers are 20 feet 6 inches wide, and the other two 18 feet each; making a total length from shore to shore of 923 feet. The carriage way is 45 feet wide, and the foot-ways on either side of the road are each 15 feet wide. The construction of the arches consists of nine curved ribs of wrought iron, braced together with latticed girders ornamented with gilt bosses. The entire structure cost 320,000 pounds.

Source:

Herring JH. Thames Bridges from London to Hampton Court, with Topographical Descriptions from Best Known Authorities, H.R. Pinder, London, 1874.

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