Centenary of bridge opened by royalty celebrated

A celebration to mark the centenary of a bridge that crosses the River Thames will be held later.

Caversham Bridge, which provides a crossing from Reading into the village, was officially opened by the then Prince of Wales – later Edward VIII and then later the Duke of Windsor – on 25 June 1926.

The Caversham and District Residents Association (CADRA) has produced a booklet noting the history of the bridge and previous crossings there.

It is thought a crossing has stood on or near the site since the 12th Century.

About 30,000 motorists are thought to use the nearby Caversham Road every day but it is unclear how many people use the bridge itself.

Well-wishers packed onto the banks of the Thames to cheer the Prince of Wales on his visit to Reading 100 years ago, which was featured on the front page of the Daily Mirror.

After he unveiled a plaque and opened the concrete bridge, he later visited the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading and the town's university, the newspaper reported.

In a small article, the Evening News in Portsmouth said the bridge replaced "the [previous] unsightly steel structure" which it said had "offended the eyes of river lovers" since it was opened in 1869.

Nick Haskins, CADRA's chair, said: "The different bridges at this crossing point have always been the historic gateway to Caversham and there are so many stories to tell.

"The construction of the existing bridge was itself a considerable feat of engineering, helped by the latest techniques and some notable specialists of the time."

A potential third road bridge to alleviate traffic over the Thames through Reading is proposed by Reading Borough Council but opposed by South Oxfordshire District Council and other parish councils.

It would be built between Earley and the Thames Valley Park to provide a crossing into Caversham.