1758: A Description of The Thames, Binnell & Griffiths

From Chelsea to Westminster, is almost a continued Garden; in the midst whereof is a Knot of Buildings, called the NEATHOUSES, chiefly inhabited by Gardeners, who supply a great Part of the City with the Product of the Kitchen-Garden.

See London’s market gardens: the Neat Houses

Victoria (Grosvenor) (Pimlico) Railway Bridge

1859: Work began on this first railway bridge to cross the Thames, built for the London Brighton and South Coast Railway by Sir John Fowler
The Illustrated London News published a view of bridges on April 9th, 1859.
In the distance is Battersea Bridge.
In the centre is the Chelsea Suspension bridge,
and just down stream of it are the five construction sites in the river for the new railway bridge.
Nearest us is Vauxhall Bridge:


In the centre Chelsea Suspension Bridge
and just nearer the 5 construction sites across the river


Victoria Railway Bridge in construction 1860

1860: Bridge opened. 700 feet long. Engineer: John Fowler
Originally, the four wrought-iron spans carried four rail tracks across the river.

Widening of Victoria Railway Bridge, Sir Charles Fox -

Widening of Victoria Railway Bridge
Widening of Victoria Railway Bridge

1897: Pimlico Bridge, James Dredge -

Pimlico Bridge, James Dredge, 1897
(Victoria Railway Bridge) Pimlico Bridge, James Dredge, 1897
© Oxfordshire County Council Photographic Archive; D230201a

1965: The bridge was reconstructed in steel, the original piers being encased in concrete, and now provides a crossing for ten tracks. In fact, the steel structure consists of ten separate bridges joined together each holding one line of track.

Grosvenor Railway Bridge, © 2001, Doug Myers
(Victoria Railway Bridge) Grosvenor Railway Bridge, © 2001, Doug Myers
The disused Battersea Power Station