<div1 type="SM_GOpage" id="LMSMGO55609GO556090267"> <xptr type="pageFacsimile" doc="LMSMGO556090267"></xptr>
<p n="1958">October 1786</p>
<p n="1959"> <rs type="placeName" id="LMSMGO55609_geo1265">Hounslow</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55609_geo1265" type="placeName" value="Hounslow"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55609_geo1265" type="type" value="undefined"></interp>
Heath thro' the said Parishes of <rs type="placeName" id="LMSMGO55609_geo1266">Twickenham</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55609_geo1266" type="placeName" value="Twickenham"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55609_geo1266" type="type" value="undefined"></interp>
and <rs type="placeName" id="LMSMGO55609_geo1267">Isleworth</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55609_geo1267" type="placeName" value="Isleworth"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55609_geo1267" type="type" value="undefined"></interp>
<lb></lb>
both of which are liable to great Floods on sudden Rains, and over each<lb></lb>
of which a Bridge is built on the Turnpike Road leading from <rs type="placeName" id="LMSMGO55609_geo1268">Brentford</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55609_geo1268" type="placeName" value="Brentford"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55609_geo1268" type="type" value="undefined"></interp>
<lb></lb>
aforesaid to the Town of <rs type="placeName" id="LMSMGO55609_geo1269">Kingston upon Thames</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55609_geo1269" type="placeName" value="Kingston upon Thames"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55609_geo1269" type="type" value="undefined"></interp>
in the County of Surry, for<lb></lb>
the safety of his Majestys Subjects travelling thereon.</p>
<p n="1960">That formerly, and within the Memory of Man, there was only<lb></lb>
a foot Bridge or Plank over the same for foot Passengers and a Ford for<lb></lb>
Carriages and Houses which was on all Floods either in the said Rivulets, or<lb></lb>
in the Thames, as the said Stream communicates with and runs into it a<lb></lb>
few yards only below the said Ford, as well as on all Spring Tides<lb></lb>
impassable and dangerous</p>
<p n="1961">That about fifty Years ago or thereabouts <rs type="persName" id="LMSMGO55609_n1961-1">Moses Hart</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55609_n1961-1" type="given" value="Moses"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55609_n1961-1" type="surname" value="Hart"></interp>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55609_n1961-1" type="gender" value="male"></interp>
<rs type="occupation" id="LMSMGO55609_occ631">Esqr</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55609_occ631" type="occupation" value="Esqr"></interp>
.<lb></lb>
the proprietor of an House near the said Ford, at his own expence, erected<lb></lb>
a Timber Bridge for Horses and Carriages over the same, not only for his<lb></lb>
own private convenience but that of the Public in general, who have since<lb></lb>
experienced great benefit thereby</p>
<p n="1962">That in process of Time the said Wooden Bridge became<lb></lb>
much decayed and ruinous & thereupon several public spirited<lb></lb>
Inhabitants in the Neighbourhood of the said Bridge raised a Sum of<lb></lb>
Money by Subscription, and therewith built a brick Bridge of three Arches<lb></lb>
in lieu of the Timber Bridge which by a Sudden Inundation about two<lb></lb>
Years ago was blown up and rendered intirely useless, one of the Piers<lb></lb>
being undermined by the flood and consequently the Arch fallen in and<lb></lb>
since the Side walls and Abuttments and the other Arch are so much decayed<lb></lb>
and damaged that is in the opinion of Mr. Payne an able Architect (who has<lb></lb>
been consulted and has surveyed it accurately) impossible to repair it, or at<lb></lb>
least very unadvisable to attempt it, particularly as the situation of it, being<lb></lb>
just at a sudden sharp turn of the Stream where consequently there is in flood<lb></lb>
times a violent Eddy, which appears to have been the Chief Cause of the late Bridge<lb></lb>
being destroyed as aforesaid requires the Situation of it to be removed nearer<lb></lb>
to the Thames to avoid that Evil in future.</p>
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