High Bridge (Hammersmith)

Hammersmith Creek was once the mouth of Stamford Brook, running from King Street into the River Thames, separating the Lower Mall and Upper Mall.^[1]

The exact date of the bridge's construction is unknown. In 1541, the Fulham Court Rolls, mention a surrender, dated Whit Tuesday in that year, by Richard Arnold and Margaret his wife, of lands including an acre at "Highbridge, Hamersmyth".^[1] On 30 April 1550, Thomas Essex presented in respect of a wharf leading from "le Strond in Hamersmyth" to the bridge there called "le Highebridge".^[1] On 12 March 1648 or 1649, leave was given to Robert Oustler to let to farm his cottages "prope le High Bridge in Hamersmyth".^[1] On 17 October 1650, Court Rolls mention premises surrendered by James Reeve, bounded by the Thames on the south and the footway leading from the bridge called Highbridge on the north.^[1]

In 1712, the bridge was rebuilt by Bishop Henry Compton, nearly at Hammersmith Creek's confluence with the River Thames.^[2]

In 1751, a wooden foot-bridge spanning the creek was built by Bishop Thomas Sherlock, also known as the "Bishop's Bridge".^[3]

The bridge was rebuilt several times, by Bishop William Howley in 1820 and Bishop Charles Blomfield in 1837.^[1]

By 1915, the bridge converged four old footpaths and bridle paths (Lower Mall and Aspen Place on the east and Upper Mall and Bridge Street on the west).^[1]

On 24 July 1944, a flying bomb destroyed much of the area surrounding Hammersmith Creek and Little Wapping, including the bridge.^[4] Today, the bridge is still marked by a raised hump in the gardens and a flowerbed in Furnival Gardens.^[5]