Queenhithe. 1859. From The Book of the Thames from its Rise to its Fall. Click on image to enlarge it
Text accompanying the illustration
A short distance onward, and we arrive at the old haven, known as Queenhithe. It retains more of the characteristic features of the Thames bank during the last century than are to be seen in any other part of London. The old wooden wharves, the boats in the little dock, the high steps leading from the water, and the picturesque tree overshadowing them, seem to belong to the days of Anne, when the traffic in boats on the river was considerable, and the rich citizen and his wife would "take water" here for Vauxhall or Ranelagh. It probably obtains its name from the gift of it by King John to his mother, Eleanor, queen of Henry II.; but it was known in Saxon times as "Edrid's Hithe," and has been a common quay for nearly nine hundred years.
Immediately after passing the Hithe, we reach Southwark Bridge; it was designed by Rennie, and built by a company at a cost of £800,000. It has three cast-iron arches, the span of the central arch being 240 feet, that of each side being 210 feet; the piers and abutments are of stone. It was opened March 22, 1810. [449]
Text and formatting by George P. Landow. [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the William and Mary Darlington Memorial Libray, the University of Pittsburgh and the Internet Archive and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one.]
Bibliography
Hall, Samuel Carter, and A. M. Hall. The Book of the Thames from its Rise to its Fall. London: Arthur Hall, Virtue, and Co., 1859. Internet Archive version of a copy in the William and Mary Darlington Memorial Libray, the University of Pittsburgh. Web. 10 March 2012.
Last modified 14 April 2012