The Mirror

OF

LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.

324.] SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1828. [Price 2d.

Vol. XII

KINGSTON NEW BRIDGE.

Through many a bridge the wealthy river roll'd.
SOUTHEY.

The annexed picturesque engraving represents the new bridge[1] fromKingston-upon-Thames to Hampton-Wick, in the royal manor of HamptonCourt. It is built of Portland stone, and consists of five ellipticalarches, the centre arch being 60 feet span by 19 in height, and the sidearches 56 and 52 feet span respectively. The abutments are terminated bytowers or bastions, and the whole is surmounted by a cornice andbalustrade, with galleries projecting over the pier; which give a boldrelief to the general elevation. The length of the bridge is 382 feet by27 feet in width. It is of chaste Grecian architecture, from the designof Mr. Lapidge, to whose courtesy we are indebted for the original ofour engraving. The building contract was undertaken by Mr. Herbert for£26,800. and the extra work has not exceeded £100. a very rare, if notan unprecedented occurrence in either public or private undertakings ofthis description. The first stone was laid by the Earl of Liverpool,November 7, 1825, and the bridge was opened in due form by her royalhighness the Duchess of Clarence, on July 17, 1828.

Kingston is one of the most picturesque towns on the banks of theThames; and its antiquarian attractions are of the highest order. It wasoccupied by the Romans, and in aftertimes it was either a royalresidence or a royal demesne, so early as the union of the SaxonHeptarchy; for there is a record extant of a council held there in 838,at which Egbert, the first king of all England, and his son Athelwolfwere present; and in this record it is styled Kyningenstum famosa ilialocus. Some of our Saxon kings were also crowned here; and adjoiningthe church is a large stone, on which, according to tradition, they wereplaced during the ceremony. Many interesting relics have from time totime been discovered in illustration of these historical facts, and tillthe year 1730, the figures of some of the above kings and that of kingJohn (who chartered the town) were preserved in a chapel adjoining theabove spot. In that year, however, the chapel fell, and with it weredemolished the royal effigies.[2] Mr. Lysons, with his usual accuracy,enumerates nine kings who were crowned here.Kingston formerly sent members to parliament, till, by petition, theinhabitants prayed to be relieved from the burden!

At Hampton Wick, the village on the opposite bank, resided the witty butprofligate Sir Richard Steele, in a house which he whimsicallydenominated "the hovel;" and "from the Hovel at Hampton Wick, April 7,1711," he dedicated the fourth volume of the Tatler to Charles, LordHalifax. This was probably about the time he became surveyor of theroyal stables at Hampton Court, governor of the king's comedians, ajustice of the peace for Middlesex, and a knight.

ARCHBISHOPS OF CANTERBURY.

The first Archbishop of Canterbury was Austin, appointed by KingEthelbe

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