Collection: British Bridges Collection

Description

The collection comprises a set of 184 black and white photographs depicting bridges in England and Scotland. The photographs are very large format (15" x 19"), sepia in tone, mounted on brown mount board, and taken in 1932. The photographs, taken in 1932, were commissioned to accompany the Public Works, Roads and Transport Congress, held in the Royal Agricultural Hall between 13th -18th November 1933. The congress featured an exhibition of 443 photographs of British Bridges throughout England, Scotland and Wales, including those held within this collection. The photographs were taken by Messers Hobbs, Offen and Co. Ltd of 68 Victoria Street, London SW1. Bridges, viaducts and tunnels across England and Scotland are represented from early stone bridges to more contemporary concrete and iron structures. The bridges are photographed from the river bank showing a clear view of their span. Traffic and pedestrians are usually absent.

A handlist is available.

Archival History

The collection was acquired by The English Heritage Archive before 2000.

The photographers are Messers Hobbs, Offen and Co. Ltd of 68 Victoria Street, London SW1 and they were taken in 1932 for the Organising Committee of the Public Works (London), Road and Transport Congress. The Public Works Congress took place in 1933 and a printed publication by the committee, "British Bridges: An Illustrated Technical and Historical Record", edited by S.M. Johnson and C.W. Scott-Giles with an introduction by John Buchan, a foreword by Oliver Stanley, and a paper on bridge development by C.H. Bressey is associated with this and a copy is in the English Heritage Library.

Content

Rights

Source: Historic England Archive