Whitchurch Toll Bridge

Footbridges & Pedestrian Bridges

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OXFORDSHIRE

51.49° N 1.09° W

This is a quite famous toll bridge (yes you have to pay!) over the river Thames, that separates Berkshire from Oxfordshire.

In the summer you can often see people jumping off the bridge into the Thames (watch out for passing boats!)

Highlights

The Bridge is a Class II listed structure. Not a beautiful bridge, but quite majestic all the same…

Access

Cars and foot traffic ok.

Useful Links

http://www.whitchurchbridge.com/

History

The south branch of the Ridgeway drops down to the Thames at Pangbourne and was one of the earliest crossing places into Oxfordshire, first by ferry and later by bridge. The ferry operated from the road running past the George Inn down to the river (now known as Ferry Lane) and ran across to the mill at Whitchurch, where passengers would then walk along the grounds to the bridge over the mill race to Mill Lane. The Company of Proprietors of Whitchurch Bridge arose from an idea by Robert Micklem, who with Samuel Gardiner and Vanderstegen, father and son, promoted the Act of Parliament in 1792 for the purpose of building a bridge at or near the point of the existing ferry over the river Thames, from Whitchurch in the county of Oxford to the opposite shore, in the parish of Pangbourne, in the county of Berkshire. The original proprietors grew to ten in number by the time the Act was passed to take over the ferry rights and to build at their own costs "a good and substantial bridge" which was described as being "of great utility and advantage to the public". In return for their investment the Proprietors were given the right to charge tolls.

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