The tidal Thames and its endlessly restless water…
Gazing down at the water is like watching a continuously moving work of art; tides, wind, weather, and the wash of passing boats all changing the texture of the surface and reflections into an infinite variety of shapes and patterns. An alternative focus and escape into another dimension. Here are some moments from the past year captured, frozen in time…
MOMENTS I
Chill Wind IChill Wind IIMigratory black-headed gulls alight on wind-ruffled waterLion drinking from a silky-smooth high tideSoftly, softly black-headed gull Blue silkClear water
REFLECTIONS
Reflections 1Reflections II Reflections IIIReflections IV
MOMENTS II
RainElasticity Troubled by a Thames Barrier closure
GLITTER PATHS
Glitter Path IGlitter Path IIGlitter Path IIIGlitter Paths IV
As I wrote last June, “There are those who, through their long experience of work on the Thames, understand its moods, complexities and dangers.” But for me, escaping for a while from the state of the world, I have looked down at the water from the safety of Victoria Tower Gardens, struck by the beauty and constant changing of its surface patterns, shapes and colours, etched by winds and painted by skies.
Street lighting on Central London’s Thames Bridges
There’s something magical about cities at night and London is no exception, particularly with the recently created Illuminated River art project lighting nine central London Thames bridges from below. However lighting of some kind for the roadways above has been in place for the safety of pedestrians and traffic almost since the bridges were first built, and a number of the more decorative designs between Tower and Putney Bridges are well worth a closer look.
Tower Bridge The bright light blue of the lamps leading up to the central section of the bridge are part of the existing blue and white colour scheme designed for the steel hangers, suspension chains balustrades, and the bascules of the bridge itself. But there is, if you’re on the look-out for it, one rather strangely shaped lamp, in fact a chimney connected to a coal fire once used in what was a guard room below. It fell out of use after the introduction of the Clean Air Act in 1956, which prohibited the emission of “dark smoke”, so banning the use of coal, apart from smokeless fuel, from any chimney on any building.
Lamps leading up to Tower BridgeThe chimney plainly visible from above or below when you’re looking for itThe chimney rising from below, manufactured by Durham Bros.
London Bridge
Standard modern, municipal lighting the roadway
Southwark Bridge
Southwark Bridge, with its decorative lanterns clearly visibleClose-up of a decorative street lamp on Southwark Bridge
The Millennium Bridge Nicknamed to begin with as the “Wobbly Bridge”, due to a design fault by architects Foster & Partners, now rectified, the walkway of this slender and elegant footbridge is lit from the side. Its incorporation into the Illuminated River Project saw artist Leo Villareal develop Foster’s orignal idea of a “blade of light” into pulses of light along the side of the bridge, echoing the movements of people crossing, creating silhouettes enhancing the structure like a moving picture with a constant stream of images.
Blackfriars Bridge
Blackfriars Bridge A closer look at one of the street lamps on Blackfriars Bridge
Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge with unremarkable modern street lighting
The Golden Jubilee Footbridges Lighting on the Golden Jubilee Footbridges, which run both sides of the Hungerford Railway Bridge, is now more intense as the already existing lights have been modified and incorporated into the Illuminated River art project.
Lighting structures on the Golden Jubilee footbridge, the upstream side of the Hungerford Railway Bridge
Westminster Bridge Visitors to London crossing the bridge naturally focus on the Palace of Westminster, the tall Elizabeth Tower and clock, known more widely as Big Ben, though that, as you might know, is actually the sonorous bell which has marked so many national events. But stop for a moment and consider the lanterns. Created in the Tudor-Gothic style by Sir Charles Barry, to match that of the Houses of Parliament, they are strikingly elegant, subtly changing colour along with the quality of daylight. Look closely and you’ll notice a tribute to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, a V&A in the centre as part of the design.
Westminster Bridge with its elegant Neo-Gothic lamps designed by Sir Charles Barry to match the newly rebuilt Palace of WestminsterOne of the Westminster Bridge lamps contrasting with the modern structure of the London EyeSunlight catching the tinted glass of a lantern on Westminster Bridge
Lambeth Bridge 1932 saw the opening of Lambeth Bridge by George V and Queen Mary, and the style of its street lighting reflects the Art Deco fashion of the day.
Lambeth Bridge just after sunset as its Illuminated River lighting begins to come into its own belowThe two types of lamps on Lambeth Bridge: double lamps on granite pillars placed above the piers, separated along the bridge by single lamps on steel latticework stands
Chelsea Bridge
Chelsea BridgeThe two pairs of light bearing pillars on Chelsea Bridge are decorated on each side, this one with a golden galleon and the old London County Council coat of arms, the wavy lines on the lower part of the shield represent the Thames
Albert Bridge The Victorian lamps light up the roadway at night, and the whole bridge is illuminated by thousands of LED bulbs, delighting all those who walk, drive, or sail past.
Albert Bridge linking Chelsea to BatterseaAlbert Bridge with its original toll booths and row of street lamps
Battersea Bridge In 1992, English Heritage approved the restoration of the bridge to its original appearance. Removed during WW2 the lamps had been replaced with replicas, and exterior lighting experts DW Windsor undertook the refurbishment of the lanterns and columns “which were broken and had been damaged from years of use.”
Battersea Bridge
Putney Bridge Taken by Wal Daly-Smith on his way under Putney Bridge, this photo shows a fleeting glimpse of two of the fine lamps that light the roadway above. These ornate, Victorian cast-iron lamp posts and lanterns have been carefully looked after by Wandsworth Borough Council and restored by specialists J.W. Lighting.
Of course there is attractive lighting on Thames Bridges further upstream such that as on Hammersmith, Kew, and Richmond Bridges but hopefully that will be for another time…
