BRIEF HISTORY DURING THE SNOW ERA (1813-58)

The intent of the Vauxhall Bridge Company was to create a link between the Hyde Park area and the southern side of the River Thames with a toll bridge.  The original plan, designed in 1811 by John Rennie (1761-1821), was for a bridge of stone.  Yet after two years of planning and building, the company switched to a less expensive design by James Walker which used cast iron.  This bridge with nine iron arches supported by 10 stone piers was the first cast-iron bridge over the River Thames. The bridge was complete in 1816 and was first called Regent's Bridge.  During the years thereafter, however, the name was officially changed to Vauxhall Bridge.  

Of the three toll-bridges over the River Thames built by private companies in the early nineteenth century (Vauxhall, Waterloo and Southwark), only the Vauxhall Bridge was financially sound. 

Sources: 

Inwood S. A History of London, 1998.

Richardson J. The Annals of London, 2000.

Weinreb B, Hibbert C (eds). The London Encyclopaedia, 1993.