BOW BRIDGE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7384, 10 February 1902, Page 4

BOW BRIDGE.

The bridge at Bow (London), which is to be replaced with one constructed of iron and 70ft wide, waß built of granite in 1839-40, and is 40£ ft wide between the parapets. The original bridge across the River Lea at Bow was built 11 arched like unto a bow," in the reign of Henry 1., by his Queen, Matilda of Scotland, as one of her probably politic benefactions to the oitizens of London. Leland reaords that she had ♦• got well washed in the stream," and, therefore, provided the means for diverting and carrying the main road from Aldgate eastwards across the river and marshes to Stratford, and so into Essex, in lieu of the dangerous passage at Old Ford a short distance up stream, near the outlet of Hackney brook, which marks the route of the more ancient track into Essex. Matilda also, by one account, oaused another bridge to be made across the Channelsea Cut, where is now dtratford Bridge railway station, and constructed between the two bridges at Bow and Stratford a causeway, the High street -o£ Bow, whioh at this day crosses the Three Mills streams by the two intermediate Pack's Hote and St. Michael's j bridges. For maintaining the two bridges and the causeway she be* stowed the manor and Wiggen mill upon the Abbesb of Barking Abbey. — The Builder. J

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