It is a pity they were not more careful with the accompanying information. The highlighted bridge over the River Brent is illustrated, in the information window, by the High Street bridge – which could not, of course, be seen from the river as St Lawrence’s would be in the way.The bridge illustrated in the panorama is, as the blurb itself indicates, the wooden swing bridge that allowed both horse and carts to cross from Workhouse Dock to the lammas land meadows. This was severely damaged some 12 years after the time of the panorama, and eventually replaced with a fixed “Turnover Bridge” of brick and iron. This was not suitable for vehicles, only people and horses, because by then Brunel was turning the meadows into a rail yard, and the lammas rights were ignored/extinguished.
Nigel Moore ● 3971d