In this episode of Danny Hurst´s Unusual Histories Bridge Series, he reaches Hammersmith Bridge, one of London´s more colourful and impressive bridges. Despite being London´s weakest bridge it has not been rebuilt, since 1887. Danny explains why the riverside beneath it is prone to flooding and why keeping it from falling to pieces requires a staggering amount of maintenance. He also busts several urban myths about the bridge, including one that connects it to Harrods.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

• At the time it was built it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.
• The bridge was a target for different factions of the IRA on 3 occasions.
• Currently, the bridge is closed to road traffic.
• The origins of the name Hammersmith is debated and remains a mystery.

BEST MOMENTS

“Hammersmith Bridge is seemingly closed more often than it is open, a continuing thorn in the side of motorists and pedestrians alike.”

“Tierney Clark would later go on to design the  Széchenyi Chain Bridge across the Danube in Budapest. .”

“Unlike most of the Thames bridges, its owners made a profit selling it, as well as on the tolls.”

HOST BIO

Historian, performer, and mentor Danny Hurst has been engaging audiences for many years, whether as a lecturer, stand-up comic or intervention teacher with young offenders and excluded secondary students. Having worked with some of the most difficult people in the UK, he is a natural storyteller and entertainer, whilst purveying the most fascinating information that you didn't know you didn't know. A writer and host of pub quizzes across London, he has travelled extensively and speaks several languages. He has been a consultant for exhibitions at the Imperial War Museum and Natural History Museum in London as well as presenting accelerated learning seminars across the UK. With a wide range of knowledge ranging from motor mechanics to opera to breeding carnivorous plants, he believes learning is the most effective when it's fun. Uniquely delivered, this is history without the boring bits, told the way only Danny Hurst can.

CONTACT AND SOCIALS

https://instagram.com/dannyjhurst
facebook.com/danny.hurst.9638

https://twitter.com/dannyhurst 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-hurst-19574720

Podcast Description

"History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake." James Joyce.

That was me at school as well. Ironically, I ended up becoming a historian. The Unusual Histories podcast is all about the history you don't learn at school, nor indeed anywhere else. Discover things that you didn't know that you didn't know, fascinating historical luminaries and their vices and addictions, and the other numerous sides of every story.

Danny continues his Unusual Histories podcast with the Bridge Series, remaining in London travelling east to west to look at the bridges which span the Thames. He looks at their design, construction, and history, along with the history of the areas in which they're located on both sides of the river. This series kicks off with an exclusive interview with Dirk Bennett of the City Bridge Foundation, the organisation which looks after London's bridges. Tower Bridge is marking its 130th anniversary this month and Dirk talks to Danny about the history of the bridge as well as the new exhibition that is opening for it.

If you love history; or indeed if you hate history, this is the podcast for you…