Upminster Bridge
Encyclopedia
Upminster Bridge is a crossing of the River Ingrebourne
carrying the A124 road between the suburbs of Hornchurch
and Upminster
in northeast London
, England. The bridge is known to have existed since at least 1375. It gave its name to the nearby Upminster Bridge tube station
, which opened in 1934, and has also been applied to the neighbourhood around the station in the London Borough of Havering
.
. The placename Upminster
is first recorded in 1062 as Upmynstre and is recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book
. It is formed from Old English upp and mynster, possibly meaning the large church on high ground, above the valley of the Ingrebourne. However, it may also indicate the position of an anglo-saxon minster secondary to those at Barking or Tilbury.
formed the boundary between the ancient parishes of Hornchurch and Upminster. However, upkeep of all bridges over the river were the responsibility of the Upminster parish authorities, as Hornchurch claimed exception due to the charter of the Royal Liberty of Havering
. The wooden bridge was destroyed and replaced with another after the winter of 1709/10. Replacement wooden carriage bridges were constructed in 1759 and 1827 and an adjacent ford was in use up until the 19th century. A stone and brick structure was completed in 1892. Upminster Bridge tube station
opened in 1934.
Until its last replacement with railings in the 1980's by Havering London Borough Council
, the bridge used to have two low height cast-iron plated bridge sides that were cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry
, makers of Big Ben
and other bells in the Houses of Parliament. A nearby pub used to bear the name The Bridge House but is now called The Windmill, after a brief period being the Hungry Horse
.
. The area is served by the 193, 248
and 370 bus routes, with services to Cranham
, Romford
, Upminster and Lakeside
. The London Loop
key walking route passes through the Upminster Bridge area, and the station forms the end point of section 22 from Harold Wood
and the starting point of section 23 to Rainham
.
Until 1972, bus routes on the A124 road that crosses the narrow bridge were more numerous. Before 248
, was extended from its orbital run around Upminster Park Estate to connect into to Romford town centre, the London Transport buses reaching Upminster station
were the 193 and the 86
. The latter running all the way from Bow and Limehouse the 15 or so miles to Upminster most of the time hugging the course of the A124 road.
River Ingrebourne
The River Ingrebourne, 27 miles in length, is a tributary of the River Thames. It is considered a strategic waterway in London, forming part of the Blue Ribbon Network...
carrying the A124 road between the suburbs of Hornchurch
Hornchurch
Hornchurch is a large suburban town in England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. Hornchurch is in North-East London .It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan. It comprises a number of shopping...
and Upminster
Upminster
Upminster is a suburban town in northeast London, England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. Located east-northeast of Charing Cross, it is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan, and comprises a number of shopping streets and a large residential...
in northeast London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England. The bridge is known to have existed since at least 1375. It gave its name to the nearby Upminster Bridge tube station
Upminster Bridge tube station
Upminster Bridge tube station is a London Underground station on Upminster Road in the Upminster Bridge neighbourhood of the London Borough of Havering in northeast London, England. The station is on the District line and is the penultimate station on the eastern extremity of that line...
, which opened in 1934, and has also been applied to the neighbourhood around the station in the London Borough of Havering
London Borough of Havering
The London Borough of Havering is a London borough in North East London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in Havering is Romford and the other main communities are Hornchurch, Upminster and Rainham. The borough is mainly characterised by suburban development with large...
.
Etymology
The bridge has been alternatively known as Bridge House Bridge and Lower Bridge, with Bridge House referring to a house which stood nearby on the current site of Hornchurch StadiumHornchurch Stadium
Hornchurch Stadium is located on Bridge Avenue in Upminster in the London Borough of Havering, east London, England.It was opened in 1956 by Hornchurch Urban District Council and is home to A.F.C...
. The placename Upminster
Upminster
Upminster is a suburban town in northeast London, England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. Located east-northeast of Charing Cross, it is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan, and comprises a number of shopping streets and a large residential...
is first recorded in 1062 as Upmynstre and is recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. It is formed from Old English upp and mynster, possibly meaning the large church on high ground, above the valley of the Ingrebourne. However, it may also indicate the position of an anglo-saxon minster secondary to those at Barking or Tilbury.
History
The bridge has existed since at least 1375. It is recorded in 1617 as being in need or repair. The River IngrebourneRiver Ingrebourne
The River Ingrebourne, 27 miles in length, is a tributary of the River Thames. It is considered a strategic waterway in London, forming part of the Blue Ribbon Network...
formed the boundary between the ancient parishes of Hornchurch and Upminster. However, upkeep of all bridges over the river were the responsibility of the Upminster parish authorities, as Hornchurch claimed exception due to the charter of the Royal Liberty of Havering
Royal Liberty of Havering
Havering, also known as Havering-atte-Bower, was a royal manor and ancient liberty whose former area now forms part of, and gives its name to, the London Borough of Havering in Greater London...
. The wooden bridge was destroyed and replaced with another after the winter of 1709/10. Replacement wooden carriage bridges were constructed in 1759 and 1827 and an adjacent ford was in use up until the 19th century. A stone and brick structure was completed in 1892. Upminster Bridge tube station
Upminster Bridge tube station
Upminster Bridge tube station is a London Underground station on Upminster Road in the Upminster Bridge neighbourhood of the London Borough of Havering in northeast London, England. The station is on the District line and is the penultimate station on the eastern extremity of that line...
opened in 1934.
Until its last replacement with railings in the 1980's by Havering London Borough Council
Havering London Borough Council
Havering London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Havering in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. Havering is divided into 18 wards, each electing three councillors...
, the bridge used to have two low height cast-iron plated bridge sides that were cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry
Whitechapel Bell Foundry
The Whitechapel Bell Foundry is a bell foundry in Whitechapel in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London. The foundry is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest manufacturing company in Great Britain...
, makers of Big Ben
Clock Tower, Palace of Westminster
Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and is generally extended to refer to the clock or the clock tower as well. It is the largest four-faced chiming clock and the third-tallest free-standing clock tower in the world...
and other bells in the Houses of Parliament. A nearby pub used to bear the name The Bridge House but is now called The Windmill, after a brief period being the Hungry Horse
Hungry Horse
Founded in 1995, Hungry Horse is a chain of 150 pub-restaurants in England and Wales owned by Greene King Brewery. It promotes itself as offering low cost meals for families and groups.- External links :*...
.
Transport
It is the location of Upminster Bridge tube stationUpminster Bridge tube station
Upminster Bridge tube station is a London Underground station on Upminster Road in the Upminster Bridge neighbourhood of the London Borough of Havering in northeast London, England. The station is on the District line and is the penultimate station on the eastern extremity of that line...
. The area is served by the 193, 248
London Buses route 248
London Buses route 248 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London.-History:...
and 370 bus routes, with services to Cranham
Cranham
Cranham is a residential suburb in northeast London, England and part of the London Borough of Havering. It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross and comprises an extensive built-up area to the north and a low density conservation area surrounded by open land to the south. It was historically...
, Romford
Romford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
, Upminster and Lakeside
Lakeside Shopping Centre
The Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town shopping centre located in West Thurrock, in the borough of Thurrock, Essex just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London...
. The London Loop
London Outer Orbital Path
The London Outer Orbital Path — more usually the "London LOOP" — is a signed walk along public footpaths, and through parks, woods and fields around the edge of Outer London, England, described as "the M25 for walkers"...
key walking route passes through the Upminster Bridge area, and the station forms the end point of section 22 from Harold Wood
Harold Wood
Harold Wood is a place in the London Borough of Havering, east London, England.It is a suburban development situated east-northeeast of Charing Cross...
and the starting point of section 23 to Rainham
Rainham, London
Rainham is a suburban town in northeast London, England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. Located east of Charing Cross, it is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan and is surrounded by a residential area, which has grown from the historic village,...
.
Until 1972, bus routes on the A124 road that crosses the narrow bridge were more numerous. Before 248
London Buses route 248
London Buses route 248 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London.-History:...
, was extended from its orbital run around Upminster Park Estate to connect into to Romford town centre, the London Transport buses reaching Upminster station
Upminster station
Upminster station is a London Underground and National Rail station located in Upminster in the London Borough of Havering and in London fare zone 6. Located east-northeast of Charing Cross, it is the easternmost station on the London Underground network and the eastern terminus of the District...
were the 193 and the 86
London Buses route 86
London Buses route 86 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London.-History:Route 86 was created in 1936. The core route has always been between Stratford and Romford...
. The latter running all the way from Bow and Limehouse the 15 or so miles to Upminster most of the time hugging the course of the A124 road.