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]
View of Folly Bridge and the island from downstream.
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]
The old "Friar Bacon's Study"."Grand Pont" from upstream.The island and "South Bridge" from upstream.
The bridge apparently stands at the site of the ford over which oxen could be driven across the Isis, the ancient name of the Thames in the Oxford area. The first known stone bridge on the site was built by Robert d'Oilli in around 1085, but there was believed to be a wooden bridge in the time of Ethelred of Wessex.[5] Remains of the Saxon 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 Abingdon to Banbury turnpike. The former bridge and "Bacon's Tower" were drawn by many artists, including the twelve-year-old J. M. W. Turner.[7]
There was also a weir underneath the bridge which had a flash lock and later a "pen" lock. At the beginning of the 19th century this and the poor state of the bridge itself constituted a problem for navigation. Surveys discovered that the foundations were in a very bad state, and in 1815 an Act of Parliament was obtained to rebuild the bridge and remove the "Tackle and Works" underneath. The new bridge works were begun in 1824 and completed in 1827. A pound lock was established nearby in about 1832, which was removed in 1884. The bridge is Grade I listed.[8]
The toll house was rebuilt in 1844 and is now, along with the bridge, also Grade II listed; tolls on the bridge were abolished in 1850.[9] A scheme for a public footbridge next to the bridge was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners but was not built.[10]
Environsedit
Castellated house at Folly Bridge (in 1979). The house was built in 1849 for the mathematician Joshua Cardwell.
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.
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 Eric C. Hiscock.[14]
A panoramic view from Folly Bridge, looking downstream on the River Thames towards the Oxford University College boat houses.
folly, bridge, stone, bridge, over, river, thames, carrying, abingdon, road, south, from, centre, oxford, england, erected, 1825, designs, little, known, architect, ebenezer, perry, died, 1850, practised, london, from, downstream, coordinates51, 746027, 256542. 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 Folly BridgeFolly Bridge from downstream Coordinates51 44 46 N 1 15 24 W 51 746027 N 1 256542 W 51 746027 1 256542CrossesRiver ThamesLocaleOxfordHeritage statusGrade II listedCharacteristicsMaterialStoneHeight10 feet 3 inches 3 12 m 1 No of spans3Piers in water2HistoryDesignerEbenezer PerryOpened1827Location View of Folly Bridge and the island from downstream 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 Contents 1 History 2 Environs 3 Literature 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory edit nbsp The old Friar Bacon s Study nbsp Grand Pont from upstream nbsp The island and South Bridge from upstream The bridge apparently stands at the site of the ford over which oxen could be driven across the Isis the ancient name of the Thames in the Oxford area The first known stone bridge on the site was built by Robert d Oilli in around 1085 but there was believed to be a wooden bridge in the time of Ethelred of Wessex 5 Remains of the Saxon 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 Abingdon to Banbury turnpike The former bridge and Bacon s Tower were drawn by many artists including the twelve year old J M W Turner 7 There was also a weir underneath the bridge which had a flash lock and later a pen lock At the beginning of the 19th century this and the poor state of the bridge itself constituted a problem for navigation Surveys discovered that the foundations were in a very bad state and in 1815 an Act of Parliament was obtained to rebuild the bridge and remove the Tackle and Works underneath The new bridge works were begun in 1824 and completed in 1827 A pound lock was established nearby in about 1832 which was removed in 1884 The bridge is Grade I listed 8 The toll house was rebuilt in 1844 and is now along with the bridge also Grade II listed tolls on the bridge were abolished in 1850 9 A scheme for a public footbridge next to the bridge was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw amp Partners but was not built 10 Environs edit nbsp Castellated house at Folly Bridge in 1979 The house was built in 1849 for the mathematician Joshua Cardwell 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 editAlice 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 Eric C Hiscock 14 nbsp A panoramic view from Folly Bridge looking downstream on the River Thames towards the Oxford University College boat houses See also editCrossings of the River Thames St Aldate s to the northReferences edit River Thames Alliance Bridge heights on the River Thames Hibbert Christopher ed 1988 Folly Bridge The Encyclopaedia of Oxford Macmillan p 144 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 amp Charles Victoria County History of Oxfordshire Volume 4 Communications Bridges Folly Bridge and Bacon s Tower Oxford 1787 pen and ink and watercolour Tate Gallery Historic England FOLLY BRIDGE WITH FORMER TOLL HOUSE 1319913 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 17 June 2015 Geoffrey Phillips 1981 Thames Crossings Newton Abbot David amp Charles pp 49 56 ISBN 0 7153 8202 0 Grimshaw Folly Bridge 1996 A V Simcock editor Robert T Gunther and the Old Ashmolean Oxford Museum of the History of Science 1985 page 60 Gardner Martin 2000 The Annotated Alice the definitive edition New York and London W W Norton amp Company ISBN 0 393 04847 0 D L Murray Folly Bridge A Romantic Tale London Hodder and Stoughton 1945 Eric C Hiscock Last Boat to Folly Bridge Littlehampton Book Services Ltd 1970 ISBN 978 0 304 93556 7 External links editFolly Bridge drawing 1896 Toll House at Folly Bridge Folly Road Bridge at Structurae Folly Bridge 2002 at Structurae Next crossing upstream River Thames Next crossing downstreamGrandpont Bridge Folly BridgeGrid reference SP5143805559 Donnington Bridge Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Folly Bridge amp oldid 1214061059 Literature, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
