Folly Bridge
Folly Bridge | |
---|---|
Grade II listed | |
Characteristics | |
Material | Stone |
Height | 10 feet 3 inches (3.12 m)[1] |
No. of spans | 3 |
Piers in water | 2 |
History | |
Designer | Ebenezer Perry |
Opened | 1827 |
Location | |
Folly Bridge is a stone bridge over the River Thames carrying the Abingdon Road south from the centre of Oxford, England.[2] It was erected in 1825–27, to designs of a little-known architect, Ebenezer Perry (died 1850), who practised in London.[3]
The bridge is in two parts separated by an island. The origin of the name is uncertain[4] although it has been suggested that it originated about 1650 after a tenant of Bacon's study.[5]
History
The bridge apparently stands at the site of the ford over which oxen could be driven across the
structure may still be seen beneath the present bridge.Until the late 17th century the bridge was known as South Bridge, and formed part of a long causeway known as Grandpont, which stretched along most of the line of Abingdon Road.[6] In the 13th century, the alchemist Roger Bacon lived and worked at "Friar Bacon's Study" which stood across the north end of the bridge until 1779, when it was removed to widen the road. Samuel Pepys visited Bacon's study in 1669, noting: "So to Friar Bacon's study: I up and saw it, and gave the man 1s". In 1369, when there was a grant of pontage on "Grauntpount", the structure was said to be "so dangerous as to be well nigh impassable".
A toll-booth gateway tower used to straddle the approach to the bridge, which was on the
There was also a weir underneath the bridge which had a
The toll house was rebuilt in 1844 and is now, along with the bridge, also
Environs
Robert Gunther, the historian of science, bought 5 Folly Bridge, an unusual castellated house by the bridge, in 1911.[11] The house is embellished with statues and cast iron balconies on the outside. It is located on a small island in the middle of the Thames.
Salters Steamers are located near the bridge. Punts are available close to the bridge and Christ Church Meadow is just downstream. The Head of the River public house is next to the bridge to the northeast, with views of the bridge and river.
Literature
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland originated as a story told on a boating trip which began at Folly Bridge.[12]
The novel Folly Bridge: A Romantic Tale was written by David Leslie Murray and published in 1945.[13] The 1970 book Last Boat to Folly Bridge was written by the sailor
See also
- Crossings of the River Thames
- St Aldate's, to the north
References
- ^ River Thames Alliance. Bridge heights on the River Thames.
- ISBN 0-333-39917-X.
- ^ Howard Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, 3rd ed., 1995 (Yale University Press), s.v. "Ebenezer Perry".
- ^ The Gentleman's Magazine, August 1829:105, which gave an engraving of the old bridge and the tower reputed to contain the study of Roger Bacon.
- ^ a b Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 — republished 1968 David & Charles
- ^ Victoria County History of Oxfordshire, Volume 4: Communications: Bridges
- Tate Gallery.
- ^ Historic England. "FOLLY BRIDGE WITH FORMER TOLL HOUSE (1319913)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ISBN 0-7153-8202-0.
- ^ Grimshaw. Folly Bridge, 1996.
- Museum of the History of Science, 1985, page 60.
- ISBN 0-393-04847-0.
- Hodder and Stoughton, 1945.
- ISBN 978-0-304-93556-7.