Richmond Footbridge, Lock And Sluices

Richmond Footbridge, lock, and sluices is a significant structure dated 1891, designed by the engineer F.G.M. Stoney, who held seven patents relating to sluices between 1873 and 1894. The lock-houses were designed by surveyors Hunt and Steward, and the ironwork was produced by Ransome and Rapier of Ipswich. The structure comprises two parallel, five-arched bridges of cast iron, supported by stone piers, with brick and stone lock houses at each end. Each bridge features five flat arches of cast iron, with spandrels lightened and decorated by vertical slots. The stone piers feature round-headed niches with keystones above pointed cutwaters. An elaborate cast iron balustrade extends along the bridges, with lamp standards positioned over the centers of the arches. On each bank, the bridge is raised on a brick base, functioning as a lock keeper's cottage and incorporating a double flight of steps. The overall span measures 348 feet. The central section, spanning 66 feet, incorporates three sluices that can be raised and stowed horizontally between the two bridges. Beneath the outer spans, each 50 feet wide, were initially three parallel lines of rollers, of which only one remains. The bridges provide public walkways, currently closed. A brick and weatherboard toll booth, topped with a fretted canopy, is situated at the upper level on the Surrey side. Richmond Footbridge is historically important in hydraulic engineering, as it represents Stoney's first application of the floating sluice gate principle, and pioneering apparatus for turning the lifted gates into the horizontal position, later utilized in the Manchester Ship Canal (1894) and Aswan Dam (1902).

Richmond Lock, dated 1894, is a five-arched bridge constructed of cast iron upon stone piers, featuring ironwork by Ransome and Rapier of Ipswich, and incorporating “Stoney’s Patent” for associated sluices. The bridge consists of two parallel structures joined by blue brick piers. Each bridge has five flat arches of cast iron with spandrels lightened and decorated by vertical slots. The stone piers are ornamented with niches to keystones above cutwaters. An elaborate cast-iron balustrade runs along the bridges, with lamp standards placed over the centers of the arches. The bridge is raised on both banks on a base of brick and stone, featuring a double flight of steps.