Collection GB 0074 DD/0008 - HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE COMPANY

1.8 linear metres

GB 0074 DD/0008 1802-1888 Collection 1.8 linear metres Hammersmith Bridge Company

The Hammersmith Bridge Company was established by Act of Parliament in 1824 (before the introduction of the principle of the limited company). The Bridge, designed by William Tierney Clark (or Clarke), was completed in 1827. A second Act, amending some sections of the first, was obtained in 1828 Land was compulsorily acquired in accordance with the provisions of the Acts for making the approach roads, which included Hammersmith Bridge Road and what is now Castelnau in Barnes. A special clause in the first Act meant that whole of the Barn Elms Estate had to be purchased. Most of the surplus land in Barnes and Hammersmith was subsequently sold; but some properties were retained and let to tenants.

The Company's income came largely from tolls on users of the Bridge and the roads in Barnes. Tolls were not charged on users of Hammersmith Bridge Road. A floating steamboat pier was later built to increase profits, attached to the downstream side of the Surrey suspension pier. In 1880 the Bridge and pier were purchased by the Metropolitan Board of Works, under the terms of the Metropolis Toll Bridges Act. The Company's roads were transferred to the local authorities, its properties were sold , and it was wound up. The Bridge was at once freed from tolls and was replaced by the present bridge a few years later.

The collection was received by the Hammersmith Central Library in about 1934. By 1954, when the first sorting was carried out, the identity of the donor was no longer known. It appears, however, that they represent some, or all, of the records retained by the last secretary of the Company, George Glasson, when it was wound up. This is indicated by the presence of items of his personal correspondence dating from 1888, and by the fact that only the less formal records (for instance rough minutes, but not signed ones) are present. No other records of the Company have been located in any of the likely places. In 1954 the material was absorbed into the Hammersmith Local History Collection. It was given the number SSR (Special Stock Register) 181.

Transferred from Hammersmith and Fulham Archives and Local History Centre in 2015.

The collection of documents listed here is incomplete. Important series of records, such as the signed minutes, the register of share transfers and all the ledgers are missing. Other series, such as the correspondence registers and out-letter books, are represented only by the last volumes. Most of the engineering records from the time of the construction of the Bridge were already missing, it seems, in 1869. (See DD/0008/1009-1010.) Tierney Clark had possibly kept them himself.

The Company's record keeping practices were fairly simple. Under the terms of its Acts its accounts, with the related vouchers, had to be produced every year at Michaelmas before the justices of the peace at the Surrey quarter-sessions for audit. The fact that comparatively few bills and receipts and account books survive may indicate that they were normally discarded after this had been done. In the Company's last years, and probably earlier, a simple system for keeping correspondence was used. Out-letters were copied in full into copy-books. Incoming items were kept in annual bundles and their date, and brief details of their contents, entered in a register. Many of the items received in 1879 and 1880 were never entered, although the notes of their contents endorsed on them indicate that it had originally been intended to do so.

In making the present list items have been grouped, as far as possible, in series. However, the fragmentary nature of the collection has necessitated the creation of some artificial subject groupings. Bundles which appear to have been created during the Company's existence, and which may reflect its record keeping practices, have been kept intact. An attempt has been made to give as much detail in the lists of unregistered correspondence as the original register gives for registered items.

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Copyright is held by the depositor.

English

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Added July 2015. Hammersmith and Fulham Hammersmith Bridge Company Transport infrastructure Bridges London England UK Western Europe Europe Hammersmith

The collection was received by the Hammersmith Central Library in about 1934. By 1954, when the first sorting was carried out, the identity of the donor was no longer known. It appears, however, that they represent some, or all, of the records retained by the last secretary of the Company, George Glasson, when it was wound up. This is indicated by the presence of items of his personal correspondence dating from 1888, and by the fact that only the less formal records (for instance rough minutes, but not signed ones) are present. No other records of the Company have been located in any of the likely places. In 1954 the material was absorbed into the Hammersmith Local History Collection. It was given the number SSR (Special Stock Register) 181.

Transferred from Hammersmith and Fulham Archives and Local History Centre in 2015.

The collection of documents listed here is incomplete. Important series of records, such as the signed minutes, the register of share transfers and all the ledgers are missing. Other series, such as the correspondence registers and out-letter books, are represented only by the last volumes. Most of the engineering records from the time of the construction of the Bridge were already missing, it seems, in 1869. (See DD/0008/1009-1010.) Tierney Clark had possibly kept them himself.

The Company's record keeping practices were fairly simple. Under the terms of its Acts its accounts, with the related vouchers, had to be produced every year at Michaelmas before the justices of the peace at the Surrey quarter-sessions for audit. The fact that comparatively few bills and receipts and account books survive may indicate that they were normally discarded after this had been done. In the Company's last years, and probably earlier, a simple system for keeping correspondence was used. Out-letters were copied in full into copy-books. Incoming items were kept in annual bundles and their date, and brief details of their contents, entered in a register. Many of the items received in 1879 and 1880 were never entered, although the notes of their contents endorsed on them indicate that it had originally been intended to do so.

In making the present list items have been grouped, as far as possible, in series. However, the fragmentary nature of the collection has necessitated the creation of some artificial subject groupings. Bundles which appear to have been created during the Company's existence, and which may reflect its record keeping practices, have been kept intact. An attempt has been made to give as much detail in the lists of unregistered correspondence as the original register gives for registered items.

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Copyright is held by the depositor.

• English

• Latin

English

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

• English