Temple Footbridge

Temple Footbridge is a pedestrian only bridge near Hurley, Berkshire across the River Thames in England. It connects the Buckinghamshire and Berkshire banks. It crosses the Thames just above Temple Lock.

Temple Footbridge
Temple Footbridge from near Temple Lock
Coordinates51°33′07″N 0°47′49″W
CarriesThames Path
CrossesRiver Thames
LocaleHurley, Berkshire
Characteristics
MaterialWood
Total length88 yards (80 m)
Height21 feet 3 inches (6.48 m)[1]
No. of spans1
History
Opened1989
Location

The bridge was built in 1989[2] specifically for walkers on the Thames Path. Previously walkers on the Thames Path had been required to take a detour away from the river bank along a road through Bisham and Marlow. The bridge was opened by Lord Hesketh on 24 May 1989,[3][4] following a campaign by Margaret Bowdery, a local advocate of access to open spaces and improvements to footpaths.[5] As part of the campaign for the construction of the bridge she ran a "Golden Boot" appeal and raised over £2000 towards its construction.[6] Formerly there was a ferry at this point which took the towpath across the river when it was used for towing barges.[7] The ferry ceased operation in 1953.[8]

The name "Temple" comes from Temple Mill Island which was owned by the Knights Templar and the site of a mill,[7] which was used to create copper sheets used in the construction of ships for the Royal Navy.[8] The mill had a large water wheel to drive the milling machinery.[9]

In May 2019 the bridge was declared unsafe and closed to pedestrians. It was repaired and reopened in June of the same year.[10][11]

On 15 May 2023, the bridge was closed due to some of the deck boards degrading faster than expected.[12]

It is a haunched girder bridge with a wooden deck.[2] At 150 feet (46 m), it is the longest hardwood bridge in Britain.[13][14][15] The centre of the bridge gives a height of 6.51 metres (21.4 ft) above the water allowing the passage of a range of vessels.[1]

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Temple Footbridge.
  1. River Thames Alliance. Bridge heights on the River Thames. Archived 24 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Temple Footbridge". Structurae. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  3. "No 165 Temple Footbridge". 110 Thames Bridges. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  4. "THE RIVER THAMES - ITS BRIDGES". Floating down the river. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  5. "Margaret Bowdery, Berkshire path-campaigner". Open Spaces Society. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  6. "Magnificent Margaret of Maidenhead". CampaignerKate. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  7. Pauling, Keith. "Temple". Thames Pathway. Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  8. Sinclair, Mick (2012). The Thames. Andrws. ISBN 9781908493194.
  9. "History". Temple Mill Island. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  10. "Temple Footbridge now reopened". Footpath News. East Berks Ramblers. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  11. Merchant, Paul. "Temple Footbridge reopened!!". My Marlow. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  12. "Temple Footbridge closed until further notice". GOV.UK. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  13. "The stories behind 28 Berkshire bridges". Berkshire Life. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  14. Fisher, Stuart (2013). British River Navigations: Inland Cuts, Fens, Dikes, Channels and Non-tidal Rivers. A&C Black. p. 222. ISBN 9781472906687.
  15. Hatts, Leigh (2016). The Thames Path: National Trail from London to the river's source in Gloucestershire. Cicerone Press. ISBN 9781783623204.


51.552°N 0.797°W / 51.552; -0.797

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