Folly Bridge
Encyclopedia
Folly Bridge is a stone bridge over the River Thames
carrying the Abingdon Road
, south from the centre of Oxford
, England
. It was erected 1825–27, to designs of a little-known architect, Ebenezer Perry (died 1850), who practiced in London.
The bridge is in two parts separated by an island. The origin of the name is uncertain although it has been suggested that it originated about 1650 after a tenant of Bacon's study.
The bridge apparently stands at the site of the ford over which oxen could be driven across the Isis, the ancient name of the reach of the Thames between Folly Bridge and Iffley Lock
. 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
. 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. 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 toll house was rebuilt in 1826 and is now Grade II listed. The former bridge and "Bacon's Tower" were drawn by many artists, including the twelve-year-old Joseph Mallord William Turner.
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 to 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.
Robert Gunther
, the historian of science, bought 5 Folly Bridge, an unusual castellated house by the bridge, in 1911. 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.
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.
A scheme for a public footbridge
next to the bridge was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners but was not built.
The 1970 book Last Boat to Folly Bridge was written by the sailor Eric C. Hiscock.
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
carrying the Abingdon Road
Abingdon Road
Abingdon Road is the main arterial road to the south of the city of Oxford, England. The road passes through the suburbs of Grandpont and New Hinksey...
, south from the centre of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was erected 1825–27, to designs of a little-known architect, Ebenezer Perry (died 1850), who practiced in London.
The bridge is in two parts separated by an island. The origin of the name is uncertain although it has been suggested that it originated about 1650 after a tenant of Bacon's study.
History
Iffley Lock
Iffley Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England near the village of Iffley, Oxfordshire. It is on the southern outskirts of Oxford. The original lock was built by the Oxford-Burcot Commission in 1631 and the Thames Navigation Commission replaced this in 1793...
. The first known stone bridge on the site was built by Robert d'Oilli
Robert D'Oyly
Robert D'Oyly was a Norman nobleman who accompanied William the Conqueror on the Norman Conquest, his invasion of England. He died in 1091.-Background:Robert was the son of Walter D'Oyly and elder brother to Nigel D'Oyly...
in around 1085, but there was believed to be a wooden bridge in the time of Ethelred of Wessex
Ethelred of Wessex
King Æthelred I was King of Wessex from 865 to 871. He was the fourth son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex...
. Remains of the Saxon
Anglo-Saxon architecture
Anglo-Saxon architecture was a period in the history of architecture in England, and parts of Wales, from the mid-5th century until the Norman Conquest of 1066. Anglo-Saxon secular buildings in Britain were generally simple, constructed mainly using timber with thatch for roofing...
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. In the 13th century, the alchemist Roger Bacon
Roger Bacon
Roger Bacon, O.F.M. , also known as Doctor Mirabilis , was an English philosopher and Franciscan friar who placed considerable emphasis on the study of nature through empirical methods...
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
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys FRS, MP, JP, was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man...
visited Bacon's study in 1669, noting: "So to Friar Bacon's study: I up and saw it, and gave the man 1s
Shilling
The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...
". 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
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
to Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
turnpike. The toll house was rebuilt in 1826 and is now Grade II listed. The former bridge and "Bacon's Tower" were drawn by many artists, including the twelve-year-old Joseph Mallord William Turner.
There was also a weir underneath the bridge which had a flash lock
Flash lock
Early locks were designed with a single gate, known as a flash lock or staunch lock. The earliest European references to what were clearly flash locks were in Roman times....
and later a "pen" lock. At the beginning of the 19th century this and the poor state of the bridge itself constituted a problem to 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.
Robert Gunther
Robert Gunther
Robert Theodore Gunther was a historian of science, zoologist, and founder of the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford....
, the historian of science, bought 5 Folly Bridge, an unusual castellated house by the bridge, in 1911. 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.
Present bridge
Salters SteamersSalters Steamers
Salters Steamers, formerly known as Salter Bros, is an old family firm based around boating on the River Thames, originally established in 1858. The company runs passenger services in summer along the whole length of the River Thames between Oxford and Staines. They also hire boats from Oxford ,...
are located near the bridge. Punts
Punt (boat)
A punt is a flat-bottomed boat with a square-cut bow, designed for use in small rivers or other shallow water. Punting refers to boating in a punt. The punter generally propels the punt by pushing against the river bed with a pole...
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.
A scheme for a public footbridge
Footbridge
A footbridge or pedestrian bridge is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic and horse riders, rather than vehicular traffic. Footbridges complement the landscape and can be used decoratively to visually link two distinct areas or to signal a transaction...
next to the bridge was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners but was not built.
Literature
The novel Folly Bridge: A Romantic Tale was written by David Leslie Murray and published in 1945.The 1970 book Last Boat to Folly Bridge was written by the sailor Eric C. Hiscock.