Group    From 1282 

Bridge House Estates

Established to maintain London Bridge. Named after Bridge House, the original administrative and maintenance centre located where St Olaf House now is. Originally funded by tolls from London Bridge, from the rents of the buildings on the bridge and from charitable donations. The Fund now administers all 5 City bridges (Blackfriars Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Southwark Bridge, London Bridge and Tower Bridge) and owns enough property that it is self-sufficient.

The logo of Bridge House Estates, known as the 'Bridge Mark', is one of the earliest in continuous use. We have seen it on various plaques and photographed it on the East Sheen alcove. We also found it in the stonework on an 1887 building in Chancel Street (changed name from Robert Street between wars) SE1, now (2014) used by the Electoral Reform Society. The stonework also reveals "AI" standing for the "Albert Institute". Southwark Charities gives some information about its creation but there is no reference to the Bridge House Estates, so we cannot explain the logo in the stone decorations, indeed, we are beginning to wish we had not noticed it.

2016: Ian Visits explains the recent revamp of this charity.

2023: The grant-making arm, City Bridge Trust, and Bridge House Estates merged and rebranded as City Bridge Foundation.

2024: Londonist explain why Blackfriars Bridge and London Bridge are fully within the City of London, while other London bridges are half in and half out.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Bridge House Estates

Commemorated ati

Blackfriars Bridge - plaque

The Queen was busy that day in 1869, opening two bridges, the other being Hol...

Read More

Bridge House Estates housing - Silex Street

Corporation of London This stone was laid by the Rt. Hon. Sir Stephen Henry M...

Read More

Bridge House Estates - Silex Street

Not a memorial really, more a mark of ownership.

Read More

Southwark Bridge opened

{Beneath the 'bridge mark' of the Bridge House Estates and above the City of ...

Read More

Victoria's Golden Jubilee - Tower Bridge

Although it doesn't specifically say, this is the foundation stone for Tower ...

Read More

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Bridge House Estates

Creations i

London Bridge alcove at East Sheen

In case anyone is in any doubt about these alcoves being off London Bridge we...

Read More

London Bridge - begun in 1967

City of London London Bridge The building of this bridge by the Corporation o...

Read More

Tower Bridge, 1894 - opening

In 1894 the royal personages listed at the top of the plaque as: Prince of Wa...

Read More

Tower Bridge, 1977 - electrification

City of London Tower Bridge Constructed and maintained by the Corporation of ...

Read More

Tower Bridge, 1982 - opened to the public

City of London Tower Bridge The main towers, high level walkways and the mac...

Read More

Other Subjects

Alfred Samuel Henderson

Alfred Samuel Henderson

Alfred Samuel Henderson, CC, was Chairman of the City of London City Lands Committee in 1952.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Councillor George Hickling

Councillor George Hickling

Mayor of St Pancras 1905 - 6. Kentish Towner refers to "a coal merchants George Hickling & Co, then to be found on the corner of Regis Rd." in the late 1800s. Seems likely to be the same man.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
A. C. Hodder

A. C. Hodder

Chairman of the Committee for the 1901 Shoreditch Town Hall Extension.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
George 5th Earl Cadogan

George 5th Earl Cadogan

Politician.  Born at Durham. Ennobled by the death of his father in 1873. Lord of the Manor of Chelsea when it was undergoing massive developments out of which he made pots of money. Funded the bui...

Person, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration

2 memorials