October 1786

Hounslow Heath thro' the said Parishes of Twickenham and Isleworth
both of which are liable to great Floods on sudden Rains, and over each
of which a Bridge is built on the Turnpike Road leading from Brentford
aforesaid to the Town of Kingston upon Thames in the County of Surry, for
the safety of his Majestys Subjects travelling thereon.

That formerly, and within the Memory of Man, there was only
a foot Bridge or Plank over the same for foot Passengers and a Ford for
Carriages and Houses which was on all Floods either in the said Rivulets, or
in the Thames, as the said Stream communicates with and runs into it a
few yards only below the said Ford, as well as on all Spring Tides
impassable and dangerous

That about fifty Years ago or thereabouts Moses Hart< no role > Esqr .
the proprietor of an House near the said Ford, at his own expence, erected
a Timber Bridge for Horses and Carriages over the same, not only for his
own private convenience but that of the Public in general, who have since
experienced great benefit thereby

That in process of Time the said Wooden Bridge became
much decayed and ruinous & thereupon several public spirited
Inhabitants in the Neighbourhood of the said Bridge raised a Sum of
Money by Subscription, and therewith built a brick Bridge of three Arches
in lieu of the Timber Bridge which by a Sudden Inundation about two
Years ago was blown up and rendered intirely useless, one of the Piers
being undermined by the flood and consequently the Arch fallen in and
since the Side walls and Abuttments and the other Arch are so much decayed
and damaged that is in the opinion of Mr. Payne an able Architect (who has
been consulted and has surveyed it accurately) impossible to repair it, or at
least very unadvisable to attempt it, particularly as the situation of it, being
just at a sudden sharp turn of the Stream where consequently there is in flood
times a violent Eddy, which appears to have been the Chief Cause of the late Bridge
being destroyed as aforesaid requires the Situation of it to be removed nearer
to the Thames to avoid that Evil in future.