161 Frith photographs of Windsor
1100s: It is likely that there was a wooden bridge here
1172:-
Osbert de Bray, fermer of Windsor, accounted for £4 6s. 6d. derived from toll on vessels passing under Windsor Bridge.
1224 & 1236: Oak trees were felled in Windsor Forest for the construction of a bridge
1313: Letters patent
issued for the collection of royal dues on vessels passing Windsor Bridge
1367: The cost of carrying coal by barge from London to Windsor is 1 shilling
a chaldron
1443: Eton College granted free passage over and under Windsor Bridge
1730: Daniel Beaumont,
starchmaker, was prohibited from selling wine on a ship near Windsor Bridge on
the Eton side, without a licence;
the scholars of the college being enticed to spend their time in
idleness on board the said vessel.
1734: Act of Parliament set Windsor Bridge tolls -
| WINDSOR BRIDGE, SCALE OF TOLLS, 1734 | |
| For every hearse or coach passing over the said bridge with a dead corpse: | 6 shillings & 8 pence |
| For every hackney coach (not a Freeman's) - for every passage: | 2 pence |
| For every load, passage or carriage with household goods, wool, earthenware, charcoal, and leather: | 4 pence |
| For every load, passage or carriage, with corn, hay, straw, dung, wood, and peat: | 2 pence |
| For evey score of sheep: | 2 pence |
| For every head of oxen, hogs, and other cattle: | ½ penny |
| For every horse loaded with hampers or otherwise: | ½ penny |
| For every barge going under bridge down stream: | 6 pence |
1737: Windsor Bridge in danger of collapse
1742: Collier –
A wooden bridge over the river Thames joins Windsor and
Eton, so called from its low situation amongst the waters, and it is a
gravelly soil, it is observed that no place is more healthy than this.
1792: Picturesque Views on the Thames, Samuel Ireland -
Windsor Castle & Bridge, Samuel Ireland, 1792
1793: Windsor Bridge, Boydell -
Windsor Bridge. June 1, 1793. J. Farington R.A. delt. J.C. Stadler sculpt.
(Published) by J. & J. Boydell, Shakespeare Gally. Pall Mall &
(No. 90) Cheapside London.
1819: Decision to build a new
bridge. The designer was Charles
Hollis and the new material used was cast iron.
1820: WRITTEN ON WINDSOR TERRACE IN JULY -
Windsor — proud, fascinating spot,
In Britain none can with thee vie,
Thy views sublime are equalled not,
Like thine no prospects feast the eye.
From the Terrace round each hill
Nature a landscape doth display,
Which to portray defies the skill
Of artists, or the poet's lay.
Thy groves and meads are rich array'd
In Vegetation's choicest sweets.
Thro' which majestic Thames displayed,
Meandering, Grandeur's height completes.
Kings well may leave the cares of state,
Tranquil retreat, to fly to thee;
In rural pomp and splendor great,
Thy seat is — Nature's majesty.
1822: Cooke -
... Eton Bridge, a tottering, ruinous, rotten old fabric ...
Eton Bridge, 1822
1822: Cornerstone of new bridge laid by
the Duke of York. The river bed at this site was said to
be quicksand. At this date so
fierce was the current through the new works … “two stone boats sunk at
the Cobler”
1824: from Knight's Quarterly Magazine -
Gerard complaineth of the municipality of Windsor for prolonging the building of an iron bridge over the Thames, and thus apostrophizeth in verse:—
I stood at Windsor on the bridge of wood,
A castle and a college on each hand,
And marked the iron arches o'er the flood.
Their ponderous length, by slow degrees, expand.
I wish they'd build them quicker, if they could.
'Tis a long time since first the bridge was planned :
And I'm beginning to dislike taxation,
And grudge my half-pence to the corporation.
1824: Bridge completed at a cost of £15,000.
1825: A Guide to Windsor -
The new bridge, connecting Windsor and Eton,
erected by Mr. Charles Hollis upon the site of the
ancient wooden structure, which had become greatly
decayed, is 200 feet in length from end to end, by
26 feet in width, and consists of three arches of cast
iron, the ribs of which spring from substantial piers
of granite; the centre arch is 55 feet span. The two
inner piers are ornamented with circular tablets and
wreaths of foliage. A neat iron rail, with recesses
over the piers, having ornamental lamp-irons, and
receding circularly at the extremities, finishes the
whole, and gives it an appearance of considerable
lightuess and elegance. A small lodge for the residence
of the toll-keeper is erected on the Windsor
side.
The first stone of this handsome structure was laid
on the 17th of July, 1822, with great ceremony and
masonic splendour, by his Royal Highness the Duke
of York. The Corporation of Windsor, attended by
the officers and members of the Provincial Lodge in
full costume, the Duke of York, and several of the
nobility and military officers in his suite, the Fellows
of Eton College, Canons of Windsor, &c. &c. with
music and banners, formed in procession at the
Guildhall, and proceeded, under a discharge of
cannon, to the scite[sic] of the bridge, where, after depositing
in a glass vase the various coins of the present
reign, his Royal Highness placed the stone with the
usual ceremonies, and strewing the surface of it
with corn, wine, and oil, he concluded an impressive
and interesting ceremony with the following address: —
"May the Great Architect of the Universe bless the work this day commenced,
and may this structure conduce to the harmony of the towns of Windsor and Eton."
The bridge was opened to the public on the 1st of
June, 1824 ; and a toll is taken upon horses and carriages, whether of burden or pleasure, without any
exemption in favour of the burgesses of Windsor, as
was the case prior to the removal of the old bridge.
1825: The New Windsor Bridge, drawing -
Windsor Bridge, 1825
1838: 'The Pilgrims on the Thames' by Pierce Brosnan -
The next day, Windsor Castle was the great object of attraction with the Pilgrims;
the morning was inviting, the row up the river truly pleasant,
and every thing went on as agreeably as they could wish;
but during the time they were resting upon their oars, Makemoney was describing to the ladies some anecdotes,
connected with the above ancient palace of royalty.
"Windsor Castle," said he, " is thus described by Hogarth, in his Analysis of Beauty ;
it is a noble instance of quantity. The hugeness of its few distinct parts,
strikes the eye with uncommon grandeur at a distance as well as nigh.
It is quantity with simplicity which makes it one of the finest objects in the kingdom ;
though void of any regular order of architecture."
A boat full of Eton boys, whom it should seem, were determined for a spree, rowed right against them ...
This outrageous conduct of the Eton boys so enraged Makemoney, that in his exertions to catch hold of the ringleader,
he missed his aim, and fell into the water. This accident produced loud shouts and peals of laughter,
during the time Flourish and Turf were rescuing Makemoney from his perilous situation ; if not from a watery grave !
The Eton scholars singing —
"Overboard he vent; Chip, chow, cherry chow, fel-de-dol-de-da! How drunk the old chap is ;
well, he is only mixing his grog; perhaps adding a little water to his heavy whet !
It will cool his courage, at all events. Ha! ha ! ha !"
Then dashing their oars into the water — splashing the Pilgrims all over.
Pilgrims on the Thames, 1838
1843: William Harrison Ainsworth, Windsor Castle (in the time of Henry VIII) -
On the left, a view altogether different in character, though scarcely less beautiful, was offered to the gaze. It was formed by the town of Windsor, then not a third of its present size, but incomparably more picturesque in appearance, consisting almost entirely of a long straggling row of houses, chequered black and white, with tall gables, and projecting storeys skirting the west and south sides of the castle, by the silver windings of the river, traceable for miles, and reflecting the glowing hues of the sky, by the venerable College of Eton, embowered in a grove of trees, and by a vast tract of well-wooded and well- cultivated country beyond it, interspersed with villages, churches, old halls, monasteries, and abbeys.
1866: A postcard showing Windsor Castle from the Bridge published by James Valentine & Co in 1866. Photograph probably taken by James Valentine, who died in 1879. From the University of St Andrew's online collection -
Postcard showing Windsor Castle from the Bridge published by James Valentine & Co in 1866
1888: Windsor Bridge, Henry Taunt -
Windsor Bridge, Henry Taunt, 1888
© Oxfordshire County Council Photographic Archive; HT05262
1897: Tolls abandoned. It seems that this was because the legal basis for them
was challenged and found to be inadequate.
1929: A Thames Survey -
Windsor Bridge was erected in 1822. It consists of three arches in iron with iron balustrade and stone piers. The mouldings of the piers and the old toll-house on the Berkshire bank are in the Greek Revival manner.
1938: Concerns about cracks in bridge
1955: Windsor Bridge, Francis Frith -
1955: Windsor Bridge, Francis Frith
1970: Vehicles banned from Windsor Bridge,
cutting off Windsor from Eton by this direct route.
2000: It was found that there was
insufficient capacity to carry "unmanaged pedestrian
loading". Structures to
prevent pedestrians filling the centre of the bridge were added.
2002: I witnessed a large launch making a determined attack on
Windsor Bridge in 2002 - without any evident damage to the bridge - though the launch
fittings were well and truly demolished as it tried to take a short cut
under the curve of the arch. The
noise as its upperworks sprang from one rib to the next was quite
spectacular!
Windsor Bridge in 2004, from upstream
John Eade, 100 Miles completed, Lechlade to Windsor Bridge, 2004
Windsor Bridge, Doug Myers © 2005
Map: Firework Ait
Right bank above bridge
Map: The Brocas
left bank
1792: Samuel Ireland -
Windsor Castle, Samuel Ireland, 1792
1873: Taunt's Map and Guide to the Thames -
The view of Windsor from the Brocas is the grandest on the River Thames. It should be seen with the red light of sunset glinting upon it; then the warm lights, contrasting so finely with the grey shadows, make every part stand out with boldness and reality; and the noble round tower, raising its head far above the surrounding buildings, gives a breadth and airiness to the whole. ...
1900: Boats for hire on the Brocas -
Boats for hire on the Brocas in 1900
Windsor from ‘The Genius of the Thames’ by Thomas Love Peacock –
The Norman king's embattled towers
Look proudly o'er the subject plain,
Where, deep in Windsor's regal bowers,
The sylvan muses hold their reign.
From groves of oak, whose branches hoar
Have heard primeval tempests roar,
Beneath the moon's pale ray they pass
Along the shore's unbending grass,
And songs of gratulation raise,
To speak a patriot monarch's praise.
Map: Deadwater Ait
right bank opposite Brocas
1906: Windsor, Mortimer Menpes -
Windsor, Mortimer Menpes, 1906
1929: Windsor, Francis Frith -
1929: Windsor, Francis Frith
Upstream to Windsor Railway Bridge
Estuary
PLA
QEII Br
Barrier
Tower Br
Custom Ho
London Br
; Frost Fairs
Cannon St Rb
The Great Stink
Southwark Br
Millenium Br
Blackfriars Rb
Blackfriars Br
Waterloo Br
Charing Cross Rb
Westminster Br
Lambeth Br
Vauxhall Br
Victoria Rb
Chelsea Br
Albert Br
Battersea Br
Battersea Rb
Wandsworth Br
Fulham Rb
Putney Br
Hammersmith Br
Barnes Rb
Chiswick Br
Kew Rb
Kew Br
RICHMOND
Twickenham Br
Richmond Rb
Richmond Br
TEDDINGTON
Kingston Rb
Kingston Br
Ditton Slip
Hampton Br
MOLESEY
SUNBURY
Walton Br
Desborough Cut
SHEPPERTON
Chertsey Br
CHERTSEY
M3 Br
Laleham Slip
PENTON HOOK
Staines Rb
Staines Br
Runnymede Br
BELL WEIR
Magna Carta Is
OLD WINDSOR
Albert Br
Datchet
Victoria Br
Black Potts Rb
ROMNEY
Eton
Windsor Br
Windsor Rb
Windsor Slip
Elizabeth Br
BOVENEY
Dorney Lake
York Cut
Summerleaze Fb
MonkeyIsland
New Thames Br
BRAY
Bray Slip
Maidenhead Rb
Maidenhead Br
Below Boulters
BOULTERS
Cliveden
Hedsor
COOKHAM
Cookham Slip
Cookham Br
BourneEnd RFb
Quarry Woods
A404 Br
MARLOW
Marlow Br
Bisham
TEMPLE
HURLEY
Medmenham
Culham Ct
Aston Slip
HAMBLEDEN
Temple Is
Fawley Ct
Remenham
Regatta
Phyllis Ct
Henley Slip
Leander
Red Lion
Henley Br
Angel on Br
Landing
Hobbs Boatyard
Hobbs Slipway
MARSH
Hennerton
Bolney
Wargrave
Shiplake Rb
R.Loddon
SHIPLAKE
Sonning Br
SONNING
Dreadnought
K&A Canal
CAVERSHAM
Reading Br
Caversham Br
Reading Slip
Purley
MAPLEDURHAM
Hardwick Ho
Whitchurch Br
WHITCHURCH
Hartswood Reach
Gatehampton Rb
Goring Gap
Goring Br
GORING
Swan
CLEEVE
Moulsford
Moulsford Rb
Papist Way Slip
Winterbrook Br
Wallingford Br
BENSON
Shillingford Br
R.Thame
DAYS
Burcot
Clifton Hampden
Clifton Church
Clifton H Br
Barley Mow
Long Wittenham
CLIFTON
Appleford Rb
Sutton Courtenay
Sutton Br
CULHAM
Culham Cut Fb
Abingdon Slip
Abingdon
Abingdon Br
ABINGDON
Nuneham Rb
Nuneham
Nuneham Park
Radley Boats
SANDFORD
Rose Island
Kennington Rb
Isis Br
Iffley Mill
IFFLEY
Oxford Rowing
Isis
Donnington Br
Riverside Slip
Boathouses
Punting
Lower Cherwell
Upper Cherwell
Islip
Head of River
Salters Steamers
Folly Br
Bacons Folly
Oxford Fb
Osney Fb
Weir stream
Osney Rb
Bullstake Stream
Osney Marina
OSNEY
Osney Br
Four Rivers
OLD RIVER
CANAL
Medley Weir Site
Medley Fb
Bossoms
Perch
Trout
GODSTOW
Godstow Nunnery
Godstow Br
Thames Br
KINGS
River Evenlode
EYNSHAM
Swinford Br
Oxford Cruisers
PINKHILL
Farmoor
Stanton Harcourt
Bablock Slip
Arks Weir Site
NORTHMOOR
Harts Fb
//Rose Revived
Newbridge
//Maybush
River Windrush
below Shifford
SHIFFORD
Shifford Fb
Tenfoot Fb
Trout Inn
Tadpole Br
RUSHEY
Old Mans Fb
RADCOT
Radcot Cradle Fb
Swan Inn
Radcot New Br
Radcot Old Br
GRAFTON
Eaton Hastings
Kelmscott
Eaton Fb
BUSCOT
Bloomers Hole Fb
Trout Inn
St Johns Br
ST JOHNS
Halfpenny Br
Marina Slip
LIMIT
Inglesham
Hannington Br
Kempsford
Castle Eaton Br
Marston Meysey
A419 Br
Cricklade
SOURCE?
THAMES HEAD
SEVEN SPRINGS