WORLD'S NOBLEST BRIDGE.

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1924, Page 9 (Supplement)

WORLD'S NOBLEST BRIDGE.

COST OF THE RECONSTRUCTION OF WATERLOO. One million pounds, the estimated cost of the reconstruction of Waterloo Bridge, is almost double the amount the bridge cost to build. That sum was £565,000, but, with the approaches and the making of the new road to the Obelisk, in the Borough, the total sum was £1,050,000. The money was. provided by a private company, which looked for its dividends to the tolls charged for crossing the bridge. The bridge was begun in IS.II, when it was known as the Strand Bridge. It was opened to foot passengers, who then paid 3d for the privilege of crossing it a few years later. But is official opening was not until June ]8, 1817, the second anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Hence its name. The Prince Regent performed the ceremony in the presence of the great Duke of Wellington and his staff.

London is very rightly proud of its Waterloo Bridge, but it took a foreigner's praise to make it appreciate it thoroughly. It was Canova, the great Italian sculptor, who awakened London to the fact that Eennie had designed a very glorious structure. Canova called Waterloo Bridge "the noblest bridge in the world," and said that it was worth coming from Rome to London just to see it. Dupin, the illustrious French engineer, echoed these praises, and pronounced the bridge worthy of a Caesar. Then London began to take notice, as it were, of its new possession.

Waterloo Bridge was sold by the company that built it to the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1877. The price paid was £475,000 and a year later the bridge was made toll-free. • • * * ERITISH PARLIAMENTARIANS. WHENCE THEY COME. Is there any profession, trade or calling which is not represented in the House of Commons? asks a "Daily Express" contributor. For diversity I do not suppose there is any assembly in the world to touch it. There was a time ■■'when Parliament was as much a preserve of the land-owning class as the deer forests. The Reform Bill brought the manufacturers in, and it was not long before they were in a predominance. Then came the lawyers, then the manual workers, and of recent years generals, admirals, theatre proprietors, and others have sought to represent the people in increasing numbers. I cannot think for the moment of any actor who has a seat in Parliament, although there is one actress —Miss Hilton Phillipson. Sir Alfred Butt and Sir Walter de Frece are among those connected in other ways with the theatre. Mr Hayes is, I believe, the only ex-policeman in the House, but I am not sure whether Mr .T. H. Thomas can claim to be the only man who has been an enginedriver. There are several journalists, of whom Mr T. P. O'Connor is the doyen. Sir Laming WorthingtonEvans is now the editor of a financial newspaper, and Major J. J. Astor is the chief proprietor of "The Times. ,, All branches of commerce are well represented, and there is one clergyman,, the Rev Herbert Dunnico, who is a Baptist minister. * ■. ♦ ♦ • what was wembley? an: ancient estate. Lysonsy in "The Environs of Lon don," says:—The manor, or manor farm of Wymbley, alias Wembley, belonged to the Priory of Kilbourn. After the dissolution of that eonvent, it was granted by Henry VIII., anno 1543, to Richard Andrews and Leonard Chamberlayne, by whom it was conveyed the same year to Richard Page, Esq., whose descendant, Richard Page, Esq., is the present proprietor (1795). And he adds:—This estate furnishes almost the only instance in Middlesex of a family now existing who have been resident proprietors for two centuries and a half. In 1642 Richard Page was assessed on land at Wembley £40 16s. This property "was sold by a Richard Page in the beginning of last century to the family of the Grays. The manor was acquired by the Metropolitan Railway Company, who sold part of it to the Metropolitan Tower Construction Company, who laid out some 280 acres as a park, in. the centre of which the "Watkin Tower ,, was commenced. When completed it was to be 1200 ft high—2ooft higher than the Eiffel m