In this episode of Danny Hurst´s Unusual Histories Bridge Series, you are once again getting two bridges for the price of one. This time around he takes a look at the fascinating history of Twickenham Bridge and the Richmond Railway Bridge. Including why one of the bridges is misnamed and why it took so long before they were actually built. You will also learn about the connection with Wembley Stadium, why the bridge has bronze hinges, the history of speed cameras and more. As a bonus, Danny also shares a few details about Twickenham Rugby Stadium.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Twickenham Bridge connects the town of St Margaret´s with Richmond. Which is about 3 miles south of the actual area of Twickenham.

• Many people confuse Richmond Railway Bridge with the historic Richmond Bridge which is located half a mile away.

• The Bridge was designed by Maxwell Ayrton who was also one of the designers of Wembley Stadium.

• The Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts made all of the bronze decorative features for Twickenham Bridge.

• The Richmond Railway Bridge was the first of that type of bridge to be built over the Thames. Today´s bridge replaced that original structure.

• A non-fatal railway accident at Norwood led to the Richmond Railway Bridge being rebuilt.

BEST MOMENTS

“Twickenham Bridge isn´t actually in Twickenham.”

“The idea of a concrete bridge in Richmond did not impress the locals at all.”

“The first ever Gatso speed camera in the UK was installed on Twickenham bridge.”

“Although Grosvenor bridge is considered to have been the first London railway crossing, Richmond railway bridge predates it by 11 years.”

“The safety of cast iron in railway construction was called into question.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.citybridgefoundation.org.uk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_Ayrton

Great Chertsey Road Plan - https://www.roads.org.uk/ringways/western/m3-a316

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2008/july/twickenham-bridge-at-75

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromsgrove_Guild_of_Applied_Arts

Barnes Railway Bridge Episode - https://omny.fm/shows/unusual-histories/047-uh

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.

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