HL Deb 08 March 1906 vol 153 cc575-7
THE DUKE OF RUTLAND

My Lords, I beg leave, in accordance with the notice standing in my name on the Paper, to move for a Return showing the dates of the construction of Westminster Bridge and the Thames Embankment, the sources out of which the funds were supplied, and the public bodies to whom the execution of the work was confided.

Moved, "For a Return showing the dates of the construction of Westminster Bridge and the Thames Embankment, the sources out of which the funds were supplied, and the public bodies to whom the execution of the works was confided."—(The Duke of Rutland).

THE EARL OF LIVERPOOL (Lord STEWARD)

My Lords, I am happy to tell my noble friend that both the Office of Works and the Treasury are prepared to grant the Return for which he moves. I believe the noble Duke has seen the Papers, but perhaps he would wish me to answer the Questions briefly for the information of the House. Firstly, with regard to Westminster Bridge, the former bridge, which I remember well, and which was in point of date the second bridge built over the Thames in the Metropolis, was built by Commissioners appointed by 9 Geo. II., c. 29, between the years 1738 and 1750. from the designs of Labelye, at a cost of £218,800, and £170,690 more was spent on the approaches to the bridge, including Great George Street. That bridge lasted rather more than 100 years. In 1846 the piers became unsafe, and the bridge was only used for a short time after that.

It is curious that it should have fallen to me to have the honour of answering this Question, for I can speak from personal recollection on these matters, having, during the earlier part of my life, lived while in London in one of the last of the old riverside houses, which no doubt the noble Duke, and many of your Lordships will recollect—Fife House. It stood on the bank of the river between Hungerford Bridge and Westminster Bridge, close to Whitehall Stairs, and on part of the site of the old Whitehall Palace, with a garden and terrace adjoin- ing the river, and with an entrance in Middle Scotland Yard, and a garden entrance in Whitehall Yard, and the supply of coal was taken in direct from barges, so that I saw the old bridge every day of my life when in London. It had fifteen arches, and was used for traffic for some years after 1846. I well remember crossing it myself in 1854, when driving down to see the launch of H.M.S. "Royal Albert," at Woolwich Dockyard, by Her Majesty the late Queen, and it was used for some years after that. The alcoves with seats and shelters which were in the parapet of the old bridge are now in Victoria Park. I hope your Lordships will forgive this digression.

To proceed, the new Westminster Bridge was built in the following way. An Act was passed in 1853 which dissolved the body who were called the Commissioners of old Westminster Bridge. Their property was vested in the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Works, with power to sell the property and to apply the proceeds to meeting the cost of constructing the new bridge and approaches. The new bridge was thereupon begun, and it was opened on May 24th, 1862. The total cost of the new bridge and its approaches was £553,000. This was met by the sale of a portion of the estate which had been in the hands of the Commissioners of the old bridge, which produced £146,000. There were further Votes by Parliament of £407,000. The remaining portion of the estate was retained by the Government, and that included the site upon which the Home and Foreign Offices were built, valued at £235,000.

I now pass to the Thames Embankment. The Thames Embankment was constructed by the Metropolitan Board of Works under the Thames Embankment (North) Act, 1862. That, too, is a date which I could have given from my own personal knowledge, for, in consequence of the long lease of Fife House having then only some six years to run, and a renewal not being granted by the Government, who then thought of building the India Office on that site, we moved in the end of that year to the house in which I now live. That Act empowered the Board to construct an Embankment on the north side of the river between Westminster Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge, with approaches from the Strand and Whitehall, and to borrow money on the security of the coal and wine duties to pay for the works. At that time the great works of main drainage and the Embankment were regarded as of almost national importance. For that reason, under the Thames Embankment (Loans) Act, 1864, provision was made for a Treasury guarantee to enable the Board to borrow on better terms, and in connection with that guarantee the Treasury was given the management of the improvement fund. The Victoria Embankment was opened on July 13th, 1870, the Albert Embankment having been previously completed and opened on November 24th, 1869.

On Question, Motion agreed to.