Matthias Lucas and London Bridge (1828)

Post date: Jul 16, 2013 2:25:39 PM

Inscription : With this trowel the first stone on the City side of the new London Bridge was laid in the foundation of the abutment by the Right Honorable Matthias Prime Lucas Lord Mayor on the 12th day of March 1828.

London Bridge was designed by John Rennie a famous civil engineer who was responsible for many major national projects (including Waterloo and Southwark Bridges) of the period. Nearby to Wateringbury, John Rennie also constructed Tutsham Oil Mill for Charles Middleton , Ist Baron Barham of Barham Court, Teston. He died in 1821 but the construction was supervised by his son Capt George Lucas Rennie RA who went on to marry Caroline Lucas, Matthias' daughter.