September 25th. 2022.          

Monday 3rd October.

·        Objects of War. Currency in a time of conflict. By K. Clancy.

Monday 7th November.

Monday 5th December.

 

Meetings are held at the Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, commencing at 7.00 p.m.

 

Michael Dexter-Elisha

I have heard from Michael’s daughters that he passed away on the 13th August. His funeral will be held at St. Mary’s Church, Shinfield at 3pm on 30th September. Please RSVP to dexterelisha@gmail.com if you are going so they can sort out the catering.

 

Numismatic request

I have received a request from a collector in Nottingham to see if anyone is interested in swapping coins. If anyone is interested, get in touch and I’ll pass on his details.

 

Summer Social

The summer social was a tea party at John and Kay’s house, attended by twelve people, a mix of members, partners and even a couple of children! Sandwiches, sausage rolls, cream teas and cakes were provided by Kay, washed down with various drinks on what was a very pleasant (and thankfully dry) afternoon. Michael had brought along some medals to show off and John had a variety of things from his own collection. The children were treated to a boxful of French Kiloware to play with! Altogether a great afternoon considering it was put together at short notice.

 

September Meeting

David Young’s presentation was about the history of London’s bridges as depicted on medallions and the occasional token - from the Thames Barrier, upstream to Hampton Court. The thirty-four bridges included nine railway bridges and four footbridges, with the remainder open for vehicular traffic. Most of these bridges have been replaced at least once. Chiswick and Hammersmith (1933) are still original, as are Tower Bridge, Albert and Richmond – the oldest surviving bridge, built in 1777.

 

London Bridge was the earliest, being built (and rebuilt) by the Romans, the rebuild by the Saxons, again in wood, possibly with a drawbridge in the centre to allow shipping to pass. There is an image of what the bridge may have looked like in King Edgar’s time (c. 943 – 8), but damage was constant from the elements, and finally, in 1086, it was swept away.

The bridge was finally rebuilt in stone in Henry II reign and a manuscript picture dating from 1500 shows what it was like. Soon after its completion, house and shops were built on it which narrowed the roadway to about 12 feet and resulted in buildings overhanging the outside of the bridge. It was a toll bridge but the income was not spent on maintenance. In 1281, the City of London Corporation took over the tolls and rents which were (and still are) managed by the Bridge House Estates. A recent medallion (1977), shows the Bridge and Nonesuch House, built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

 

The bridge is depicted on several medallions, for example a copper medallion of James III (the Old Pretender) which clearly show London Bridge I the background. Congestion was a problem and an Act of 1722 prescribed ‘Keep Left’. Houses were cleared in 1752 and the carriageway was widened.

 

In 1821, a competition was held to design a replacement, won by John Rennie. A copper medallion was engraved by Benjamin Wyon at the time of the opening, in 1831. However, the southern end of the bridge was sinking (by about 1 foot in the 1960s) and a new pre-stressed concrete of three spans bridge was opened in 1973.

Most bridges have a long history of delays, funding problems and failures. For example, between Putney and Fulham, where an attempt was made in 1671; controversial with landowners and ferrymen, a wooden bridge opened in 1729. This wooden bridge was replaced by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1886. Equally controversial was an attempt to build a bridge at Westminster, which was finally opened in 1750. Blackfriars bridge took some 15 years to open, and suffered from corrosion. By 1850, it was agreed that it had to be replaced, but fitting in with the new railway bridge took time sort out, eventually opening in 1865.

 

The bridge between Brentford and Kew was necessitated by the increased ferry traffic following the creation of a Royal Palace at Kew. The wooden bridge was completed in 1759 but had to be replaced in 1789.  Finally, a new bridge of three spans was opened in 1903.

The background to more bridges was illustrated, including the Tower Bridge which was opened in June 1894. This interesting and important bridge is featured on many medallions and coins.

 

Concluding his talk, David Young said that historic representations of London’s bridges continue to turn up, which makes the subject so interesting.

 

David was thanked by Club members for a thorough review of medallions and related tokens and coins which illustrated London’s bridges.

 

 

Subscriptions

Be reminded that subscriptions are now due. It would be most appreciated if members yet to renew their subscription would please do so at the next meeting. Please see our treasurer Peter or another committee member. Membership cards are now available for paid-up members.

 

Future Events

·         COINEX, Grosvenor Square, London – September 23rd – 24th.

·         World Paper Money Fair, Bloomsbury Hotel, London – September 30th – 1st October.

·         Midland Coin Fair - National Motorcycle museum –  October 9th.

 

Past Events

Club Secretary.