
London Bridge Alcove
Restoration of the alcove
Courtlands, Sheen Road, Richmond, TW10 5AT
The history of London Bridge dates back to the establishment of the city of Londinium by the Romans, when a timber bridge spanned the river Thames.
Medieval London Bridge was constructed between 1176 and 1209. Buildings were erected along either side and spanning over the bridge, including gatehouses, shops and chapels. These were rebuilt in piecemeal fashion throughout the centuries, with major fires occasionally resulting in more wide-sweeping rebuilding along the bridge, such as after the Great Fire. The London Bridge Act 1756 gave the City Corporation the power to purchase all the properties on the bridge so that they could be demolished and the bridge improved. In 1762, the roadway was widened to 46 feet and a balustrade was added "in the Gothic taste" together with 14 stone alcoves for pedestrians to shelter in. ‘Old London Bridge’ was demolished in 1831 and its components sold off. Four of the original 14 stone alcoves survive across London: two in Victoria Park, Hackney, one in the grounds of Guy's Hospital and one in the gardens of the Courtlands Estate in East Sheen.
‘New London Bridge’ was built by John Rennie between 1824 and 1831. This bridge lasted until 1968 when it was sold to an American entrepreneur and re-erected in a city in Arizona. ‘Modern London Bridge’ dates from 1973.
The Courtlands alcove is one of two originally bought and installed at his estate by the Hon Heneage Legge, a younger son of the third Earl of Dartmouth at his house, Stawell House in Richmond, between 1829 and 1839. One was demolished when the current blocks of flats replaced Stawell House in 1938.
The Alcove is structurally sound but has isolated loss of details and surface erosion. The Portland stone surface has darkened in places by inclement weather and soot contamination. The stone surface has suffered erosion, cracks, spalling and pitting, later cement repairs are now failing. There is some loss of detail and minor cracks & chipping of surfaces.
The Alcove will be cleaned and open joints will be repainted with lime mortar. All missing and damaged features to the cornice string course and the arch edge will be repaired, matching the original stone. Corroded metal components will be treated and vegetation at the base of the stone will be raked out, helping the stonework at the low level to dry out.
