Summary
Temple Footbridge is a pedestrian only bridge near Hurley, Berkshire across the River Thames in England. It connects the Buckinghamshire and Berkshire banks. It crosses the Thames just above Temple Lock.
Temple Footbridge | |
|---|---|
 Temple Footbridge from near Temple Lock | |
| Coordinates | 51°33′07″N 0°47′49″W / 51.552°N 0.797°W |
| Carries | Thames Path |
| Crosses | River Thames |
| Locale | Hurley, Berkshire |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Wood |
| Total length | 88 yards (80 m) |
| Height | 21 feet 3 inches (6.48 m)[1] |
| No. of spans | 1 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1989 |
| Location | |
 | |
The bridge was built in 1989[2] specifically for walkers on the Thames Path. Previously walkers on the Thames Path had been required to take a detour away from the river bank along a road through Bisham and Marlow. The bridge was opened by Lord Hesketh on 24 May 1989,[3][4] following a campaign by Margaret Bowdery, a local advocate of access to open spaces and improvements to footpaths.[5] As part of the campaign for the construction of the bridge she ran a "Golden Boot" appeal and raised over £2000 towards its construction.[6] Formerly there was a ferry at this point which took the towpath across the river when it was used for towing barges.[7] The ferry ceased operation in 1953.[8]
The name "Temple" comes from Temple Mill Island which was owned by the Knights Templar and the site of a mill,[7] which was used to create copper sheets used in the construction of ships for the Royal Navy.[8] The mill had a large water wheel to drive the milling machinery.[9]
In May 2019 the bridge was declared unsafe and closed to pedestrians. It was repaired and reopened in June of the same year.[10][11]
On 15 May 2023, the bridge was closed due to some of the deck boards degrading faster than expected.[12]
It is a haunched girder bridge with a wooden deck.[2] At 150 feet (46 m), it is the longest hardwood bridge in Britain.[13][14][15] The centre of the bridge gives a height of 6.51 metres (21.4 ft) above the water allowing the passage of a range of vessels.[1]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b River Thames Alliance. Bridge heights on the River Thames. Archived 24 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Temple Footbridge". Structurae. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "No 165 Temple Footbridge". 110 Thames Bridges. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "THE RIVER THAMES - ITS BRIDGES". Floating down the river. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "Margaret Bowdery, Berkshire path-campaigner". Open Spaces Society. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "Magnificent Margaret of Maidenhead". CampaignerKate. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ a b Pauling, Keith. "Temple". Thames Pathway. Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ a b Sinclair, Mick (2012). The Thames. Andrws. ISBN 9781908493194.
- ^ "History". Temple Mill Island. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "Temple Footbridge now reopened". Footpath News. East Berks Ramblers. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ Merchant, Paul. "Temple Footbridge reopened!!". My Marlow. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "Temple Footbridge closed until further notice". GOV.UK. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ "The stories behind 28 Berkshire bridges". Berkshire Life. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ Fisher, Stuart (2013). British River Navigations: Inland Cuts, Fens, Dikes, Channels and Non-tidal Rivers. A&C Black. p. 222. ISBN 9781472906687.
- ^ Hatts, Leigh (2016). The Thames Path: National Trail from London to the river's source in Gloucestershire. Cicerone Press. ISBN 9781783623204.
51°33′07″N 0°47′49″W / 51.552°N 0.797°W