The Lost Railway – a bridge to nowhere
I found the most fascinating article today on one of London’s little mysteries.
I’ve always wondered about the huge piers in the water next to Blackfriars Bridge when I pass them. They obviously supported something – or were intended to; but were they the remains of a project that never got built, or the ruins of a bridge that fell?
On Currybet.net Martin Belam makes all clear. There was indeed a bridge here, used by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway, back in the 1860s.
In those days, there were scores of railway companies – every market town seemed to have its own branch line. It was only later on that they amalgamated – the London, Chatham and Dover eventually becoming part of the Southern Railway. Eventually, amalgamation made the extra bridge useless and the superstructure was removed. But the piers were less easy to get rid of – and were just left there.
Apparently, though, this mystery may not last, as there are plans to use the piers to support new, longer platforms at Blackfriars station.
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