Bridges No.23 - Barnes Bridge

Like Hammersmith Bridge, Barnes Railway Bridge has become something of a landmark thanks to the Boat Race. But in context Barnes Bridge looks a little out of place next to the elegant riverside cottages of Barnes.

In 1847 the Windsor, Staines and South-Western Railway were given permission to build a line from Barnes to Feltham. Joseph Locke and Thomas Brassey were commissioned to design a bridge to cross the Thames to connect Barnes with Chiswick. The three-arch cast iron bridge was the result.

The bridge opened for use in 1849 and quickly became popular, not only for passenger trains, but also freight trains avoiding the busier line through Richmond. It also is a handy by-pass line in the present day, particularly on those frequent weekends when Network Rail are carrying out engineering work on the main Richmond - Feltham line.

Between 1891 and 1895 the bridge was strengthen with the addition of a new adjacent bridge. A footbridge on the downstream side was also added at this time. Later in 1916 Barnes Bridge station opened on a site immediately to the south of the bridge.