In this episode of Danny Hurst´s Unusual Histories Bridge Series, he reaches the last of the bridges that cross the river Thames, in London – Hampton Court Bridge. You will find out why a bridge had to be built in this specific location and why it had to be torn down and redesigned multiple times. The first, of which despite being so stunning that Canaletto created an engraving of it, only lasted for 25 years.

You will also gain a fascinating insight into the history of Hampton Court Palace, including its ghosts, most famous residents and the King James Bible.

If you can´t get enough of these podcasts, head to https://www.patreon.com/DannyHurst to access my exclusive, member-only, fun-filled and fact-packed history-related videos.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Hampton Court bridge was not built for Henry VIII as many people think.

• The bridge is the only one that enables you to cross from Greater London into a different county.

• The structure in place today is the 4th Hampton Court Bridge iteration.

• Hampton Court Palace has been open to the public since 1838.

• Unusually, the bridge was built by a ferry master.

• When the latest version of the bridge was built, two smaller rivers had to be diverted.

• The current version of the bridge was the first ferro-cement bridge over the Thames.

BEST MOMENTS

“It opened in 1753 and was built in the fashionable Chinese Willow pattern style, with seven steep curved spans and pagoda style piers in the centre.”

“Changing the flow of the Thames and causing navigational issues when trying to get through the arches of the bridge.”

“The oldest surviving hedge maze in Britain, Hampton Court is a mixture of Tudor and Baroque styles after a huge redesign.”

“The palace (Hampton Court) itself is noted by architecture historians as an example of transitioning styles.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.citybridgefoundation.org.uk

https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace

https://www.orleanshousegallery.org/collection/the-first-bridge-at-hampton-court

HOST BIO

Historian, performer, and mentor Danny Hurst has been engaging audiences for many years, whether as a lecturer, stand-up comic or intervention teacher with young offenders and excluded secondary students. Having worked with some of the most difficult people in the UK, he is a natural storyteller and entertainer, whilst purveying the most fascinating information that you didn't know you didn't know. A writer and host of pub quizzes across London, he has travelled extensively and speaks several languages. He has been a consultant for exhibitions at the Imperial War Museum and Natural History Museum in London as well as presenting accelerated learning seminars across the UK. With a wide range of knowledge ranging from motor mechanics to opera to breeding carnivorous plants, he believes learning is most effective when it's fun. Uniquely delivered, this is history without the boring bits, told the way only Danny Hurst can.

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