Proprietors of Battersea Bridge

Battersea Bridge was built in 1771-2. It was constructed from wood to the designs of Henry Holland to replace the ferry between Chelsea and Battersea. The bridge was demolished in 1881 as boats often collided with the piers, but it had already contributed to the growth of Chelsea from a village to a small town. The present bridge with cast iron arches and designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette was erected 1886-90.

Meetings of the Proprietors took place at the Somerset Coffee House in the Strand, at the White Horse, Mrs Anderson's, or Don Saltero's Coffee House - all in Chelsea, at the Rainbow Coffee House, Cornhill, the Salopian Coffee House, Charing Cross, and frequently on the site at the Ferry House in Battersea.