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187
for permission to "to take down part of ye bridge at
Knightsbridge belonging to this parish in order to open
and make the way more commodious before some new built
houses belonging to him near the said bridge," a Committee
was instructed to view the locality and report. Their
report was as under :—
9th April, 1736.—We whose Names are hereunder Subscribed being
of the Committee appointed for the purpose aforesaid Having
this day (being attended by Mr. William Tufnell the Parish
Bricklayer agreeable to the said Order) taken a View of the
said Bridge Do Report it as our Opinion that the Alteration
proposed, which is the taking down about thirteen feet of the
said Bridge Westward, will not in any way indamage or Weaken
the said Bridge, and your Committee having caused Mr. Tufnell
to Value the Brickwork & Stone Coping of so much of the
Bridge proposed to be pulled down together with the Oak posts
and Rails hath Estimated the same at the Sume of Five
Pounds All which is Submitted to the Vestry under our hands
this 26th of March 1736.
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And Mr. Lowndes having proposed to pay the Church Wardens
Two Guineas for the use of the parish to be Excused from
taking the Materials at the Price Estimated.
Ordd That upon Payment of Two Guineas the Parapet Walls to
be taken down to the levell of the Footway and that the
Churchwardens do either dispose of the Old Materials or
secure them for the use of the parish but that the two
Outside Posts which were placed for the defence of the
parapets be left standing to defend the footway.
Owing in all probability to increasing traffic between
London and the south-west by heavy coaches and waggons,
this bridge was often out of repair:—
Thurs 6 Mch 1766. The Churchwardens acquainted the Vestry that
part of the Bridge at Knightsbridge which is in this Parish is
out of Repair
Resolved that the Churchwardens be desired to cause the same to
be Repaired at the expense of this Parish
Tuesday, 8th November, 1774. Resolved that the Churchwardens
of this Parish, Mr. James Eves, and Mr. Thomas Hatch be
and they are hereby appointed a Committee to meet the
Gentlemen of the Parish of St. George, Hanover Square, in
Order to take a Survey of the Bridge at Knightsbridge, the
Commissioners of the Kensington Turnpikes having signified
to the said Parishes that the said Bridge is Defective, and that
the said Committee be desired to Report their opinion at the
next Vestry.