Consultation: Bishop's Bridge Parapets

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

January 2024

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets Proposed design for consultation January 2024

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

Context The current bridge structure was implemented in 2016 and comprises 183 concrete parapets, each with grey stainless steel panels.

The bridge design obscures views to Paddington Station and the canalside, has a monotone character and contributes to a hostile and unwelcoming experience giving no reference to its surrounding heritage – the railway, the canal or Paddington Station.

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Bishop’s Bridge theme zones The bridge is split into zones, each focused on an aspect of the area’s history, culture, and people.

Zone 1 – The lost bridge Zone 2 – Station splendour

The Grand Union Canal

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Zone 3 – Gateway to adventure Zone 4 – The Grand Union Canal Each zone will use a distinctive colour scheme reflecting their theme, and sympathetic with the local environment and views from the respective side of the bridge. The proposal is to replace 69 of the 183 stainless steel panels.

1 Gateway to adventure

The lost bridge

3 2 Station splendour

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Bridge Zones

Zone 1 – The lost bridge

Zone 2 – Station splendour

Zone 3 – Gateway to adventure

Zone 4 – The Grand Union Canal

The lost bridge

Station splendour

Gateway to adventure

The Grand Union Canal

This site marks the spot of a very special discovery in 2004, when an iron bridge by Isambard Kingdom Brunel was revealed hidden in brickwork below the former Bishop’s Bridge Road.

The Grade 1 listed Paddington station is the grand terminus for Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Great Western Railway. The original Paddington Station opened on 4 June 1838 on a site that is now Paddington Central, behind you. It was not until May 1854 that the station was fully operational in its current location.

Paddington has long been at the seat of transport innovation. From steam trains to the Heathrow Express, the romance of travel starts at Paddington, with over 50 million people using Paddington station each year.

The Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal opened in July 1801.

Known as the Grand Junction Canal until 1929, it joined the Regent's canal on the latter's completion in 1820 with the formation of Browning's stunning Pool at Little Venice.

Built in 1838 the cast iron bridge was uniquely designed by Brunel without bolts; the beams simply fitting together like pieces of a jigsaw.

Brunel’s bridge was carefully dismantled and is now in the care of Historic England.

Brunel was influenced by the design of the Crystal Palace in the Great Exhibition of 1851, evidenced in the use of iron and glass in the three spans that make up the roof of the station, the largest train shed roof in the world at the time. The famous iron tracery on the train shed screens was the creation of Matthew Digby-Wyatt, Brunel’s architect.

The arrival of the Elizabeth line in 2022 makes Paddington one of the UK’s busiest stations. The station remains globally and historically significant, fulfilling Brunel’s vision of connecting London to the world.

Along those canals came the goods and freight, unloaded into mighty warehouses all along the canal’s banks. Today the canal at Paddington is home to a bustling community of floating restaurants, business barges, trip boats and house boats.

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

Zone 1 The lost bridge The history of the lost work of Brunel, only re-discovered in 2003 –revealing details of his first iron bridge and unique design features of the original canal bridge dating from 1839.

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Zone 1 The lost bridge Interesting features

Brickwork

Girders & Beams

Use of cast iron

Embossing

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The bricks used in the bridge piers and fascias are handmade, multicoloured London stock bricks

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The distinct balloon flange girder was favoured by Brunel in the 1830s - 1850s

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Crossbeams were embossed with letters (potentially to denote the order of the bays from the north-west face)

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Surface colouration is a dappled yellow

Brunel was the only regular user of this particular shape of girder

Cast iron was used in mid 19th century engineering to achieve longer and shallower spans for railway alignment

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The brickwork is laid to Flemish bond, rather than the English bond that was favoured for less aesthetic structures

As time progressed cast iton was replaced with alternative materials therefore making this bridge a rare example of cast iron in engineering

Lettering in a similar style could be incorporated into the design as an artistic reference to Brunel’s work

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References could be made to cast iron in the form of imagery or colour to highlight the archeological significance of the old bridge

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Zone 1 The lost bridge Colour

London stock brick

Pattern

Portland stone

Flemish bond

Cast iron

‘Dappled’ yellow

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Zone 1 The lost bridge Elevation

The lost bridge

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This site marks the spot of a very special discovery in 2004, when an iron bridge by Isambard Kingdom Brunel was revealed hidden in brickwork below the former Bishop’s Bridge Road.

Built in 1838 the cast iron bridge was uniquely designed by Brunel without bolts; the beams simply fitting together like pieces of a jigsaw.

Brunel’s bridge was carefully dismantled and is now in the care of Historic England.

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Did you know?

The world’s first underground train departed from Bishop’s Road Station in 1863, right here on Bishop’s Bridge Road.

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Zone 1 The lost bridge Information panels

The lost bridge Large text with ‘zone’ name

This site marks the spot of a very special discovery in 2004, when an iron bridge by Isambard Kingdom Brunel was revealed hidden in brickwork below the former Bishop’s Bridge Road.

Built in 1838 the cast iron bridge was uniquely designed by Brunel without bolts; the beams simply fitting together like pieces of a jigsaw.

Brunel’s bridge was carefully dismantled and is now in the care of Historic England.

Smaller text with detailed information about the lost bridge

Image panels

Archive images of the lost bridge

Motif panel

Texture panel

Small motif linked to the theme which can be placed at various points along the section

A pattern or texture based on the theme. The halftone effect will look more abstract when viewing close up and more realistic when viewing from the other side of the bridge

Did you know?

The world’s first underground train departed from Bishop’s Road Station in 1863, right here on Bishop’s Bridge Road.

Each theme will have an interesting ‘did you know’ fact

Fade out panel

Some panels will have a pattern overlayed on top.

This will act as a link to the ‘fade out’ panels

The pattern is made up of dots the same size as the anti climb dots on the panels.

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

January 2024

Zone 1 The lost bridge Copy

This site marks the spot of a very special discovery in 2004, when an iron bridge by Isambard Kingdom Brunel was revealed hidden in brickwork below the former Bishop’s Bridge Road.

Built in 1838 the cast iron bridge was uniquely designed by Brunel without bolts; the beams simply fitting together like pieces of a jigsaw.

Brunel’s bridge was carefully dismantled and is now in the care of Historic England.

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

Zone 1 The lost bridge Copy

Did you know?

The world’s first underground train departed from Bishop’s Road Station in 1863, right here on Bishop’s Bridge Road.

January 2024

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

January 2024

Zone 1 The lost bridge Panels: 9

title

Themes: 1 & 4 - Heritage and nature: Brunel: original Bishop’s Bridge, canal, barges and industrial heritage (not fish, birds etc)

3 & 2 - Heritage and Transport: Brunel: Paddington Station, Elizabeth Line

Sheldon Sq.

Eastbourne Terr.

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Bishop’s Bridge Road

Paddington Stn.

1: Brunel Building to taxi deck entrance (south)

2: Taxi deck entrance to Eastbourne Terrace (south )

Regent’s canal

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Need to incorporate elements of wayfinding linking to the canalside/Sheldon Square, Paddington Station and Elizabeth Line Loosley follow colour themes/pallete from See Paddington

artwork span

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

Zone 2 Station splendour A hugely important historical railway station, Paddington station in its curren state was opened in 1854 to the West of what is now Bishop’s Bridge Road.

The station, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is home to many distinctive architectural features and is Grade I listed.

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Zone 2 Station splendour Interesting features

The roof

Ironwork

Expansion

The Spans

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Brunel’s station was large enough to cope with the expansion of the Great Western Railway over the next 50 years.

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The design and construction of the station was influenced by the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition of 1851.

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By the early 20th century new accommodation for increasing amounts of both traffic and employees was needed.

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At the time, this was the largest train shed roof in the world

Many of the station’s most recognisable features were designed by Brunel’s architect on the porject, Matthew DigbyWyatt

In the 1990s, the ironwork, also designed by Matthew DigbyWyatt was restored

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Zone 2 Station splendour

Station architectural details

Ironwork

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Zone 2 Station splendour Elevation

The Grade 1 listed Paddington station is the grand terminus for Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Great Western Railway. The original Paddington Station opened on 4 June 1838 on a site that is now Paddington Central, behind you. It was not until May 1854 that the station was fully operational in its current location.

Station splendour

Grand Union Canal

Brunel was influenced by the design of the Crystal Palace in the Great Exhibition of 1851, evidenced in the use of iron and glass in the three spans that make up the roof of the station, the largest train shed roof in the world at the time. The famous iron tracery on the train shed screens was the creation of Matthew Digby-Wyatt, Brunel’s architect.

Did you know?

Paddinton station’s fourth span was added to the station to increase platform capacity between 1913 and 1915, designed

by GWR’s engineer W Armstrong.

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Paddington Station Elizabeth Line

Wayfinding

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Zone 2 Station splendour Information panels

Station splendour Large text with ‘zone’ name

The Grade 1 listed Paddington station is the grand terminus for Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Great Western Railway. The original Paddington Station opened on 4 June 1838 on a site that is now Paddington Central, behind you. It was not until May 1854 that the station was fully operational in its current location.

Brunel was influenced by the design of the Crystal Palace in the Great Exhibition of 1851, evidenced in the use of iron and glass in the three spans that make up the roof of the station, the largest train shed roof in the world at the time. The famous iron tracery on the train shed screens was the creation of Matthew Digby-Wyatt, Brunel’s architect.

Smaller text with detailed information about Paddington Station

Image panels

Archive images of the station

Motif panel

Texture panel

Small motif linked to the theme which can be placed at various points along the section

A pattern or texture based on the theme. The halftone effect will look more abstract when viewing close up and more realistic when viewing from the other side of the bridge

Did you know?

Paddinton station’s fourth span was added to the station to increase platform capacity between 1913 and 1915, designed

by GWR’s engineer W Armstrong.

Each theme will have an interesting ‘did you know’ fact

Fade out panel

Some panels will have a pattern overlayed on top.

This will act as a link to the ‘fade out’ panels

The pattern is made up of dots the same size as the anti climb dots on the panels.

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

January 2024

Zone 2 Station splendour Copy

The Grade 1 listed Paddington station is the grand terminus for Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Great Western Railway. The original Paddington Station opened on 4 June 1838 on a site that is now Paddington Central, behind you. It was not until May 1854 that the station was fully operational in its current location.

Brunel was influenced by the design of the Crystal Palace in the Great Exhibition of 1851, evidenced in the use of iron and glass in the three spans that make up the roof of the station, the largest train shed roof in the world at the time. The famous iron tracery on the train shed screens was the creation of Matthew Digby-Wyatt, Brunel’s architect.

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

Zone 2 Station splendour Copy

Did you know?

Paddinton station’s fourth span was added to the station to increase platform capacity between 1913 and 1915, designed

by GWR’s engineer W Armstrong.

January 2024

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Zone 2 Station splendour Wayfinding

Grand Union Canal

Paddington Station Elizabeth Line

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Zone 2 Station splendour Panels: 18 + 1 (wayfinding)

title

wayfinding

Themes: 1 & 4 - Heritage and nature: Brunel: original Bishop’s Bridge, canal, barges and industrial heritage (not fish, birds etc)

3 & 2 - Heritage and Transport: Brunel: Paddington Station, Elizabeth Line

Sheldon Sq.

Eastbourne Terr.

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Regent’s canal

Bishop’s Bridge Road

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Need to incorporate elements of wayfinding linking to the canalside/Sheldon Square, Paddington Station and Elizabeth Line Loosley follow colour themes/pallete from See Paddington

Paddington Stn.

1: Brunel Building to taxi deck entrance (south)

artwork span 2: Taxi deck entrance to Eastbourne Terrace (south )

3: Adam & Eve to Building to Sheldon Sq entrance (north)

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

Zone 3 Gateway to adventure Looking at the history of rail travel from Paddington

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Zone 3 Gateway to adventure Interesting features

Linking London

Escapism

The trains

Transport

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The Great Western Railway engineered by Brunel ran its first train in 1838 from London to Bristol

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Most trains were painted ‘Brunswick green’ with goods trains painted red

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Linked London with the west of England and Wales

Flying dutchman, Cornish Riviera Express and the Cheltenham Spa Express used the line

GWR was nicknamed the ‘holiday line’ as it allowed many people to leave London for leisure trips

Old GWR posters advertised the routes and destinations of the GWR.

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Zone 3 Gateway to adventure

Lines of the rail tracks

Track ballast

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Zone 3 Gateway to adventure Elevation

Paddington Central Grand Union Canal Little Venice

Wayfinding

Did you know?

You can still see steam trains at Paddington station, with regular round trips from Paddington operated by steam railway touring companies.

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Gateway to adventure

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Paddington has long been at the seat of transport innovation. From steam trains to the Heathrow Express, the romance of travel starts at Paddington, with over 50 million people using Paddington station each year.

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The arrival of the Elizabeth line in 2022 makes Paddington one of the UK’s busiest stations. The station remains globally and historically significant, fulfilling Brunel’s vision of connecting London to the world.

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Zone 3 Gateway to adventure Information panels

Gateway to adventure Large text with ‘zone’ name

Paddington has long been at the seat of transport innovation. From steam trains to the Heathrow Express, the romance of travel starts at Paddington, with over 50 million people using Paddington station each year.

The arrival of the Elizabeth line in 2022 makes Paddington one of the UK’s busiest stations. The station remains globally and historically significant, fulfilling Brunel’s vision of connecting London to the world.

Smaller text with detailed information about transport at Paddington

Texture panel

Small motif linked to the theme which can be placed at various points along the section

A pattern or texture based on the theme. The halftone effect will look more abstract when viewing close up and more realistic when viewing from the other side of the bridge

Did you know?

You can still see steam trains at Paddington station, with regular round trips from Paddington operated by steam railway touring companies.

Each theme will have an interesting ‘did you know’ fact

Image panels

Transport/’adventure’ related imagery

Motif panel

Fade out panel

Some panels will have a pattern overlayed on top.

This will act as a link to the ‘fade out’ panels

The pattern is made up of dots the same size as the anti climb dots on the panels.

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

January 2024

Zone 3 Gateway to adventure Copy

Paddington has long been at the seat of transport innovation. From steam trains to the Heathrow Express, the romance of travel starts at Paddington, with over 50 million people using Paddington station each year.

The arrival of the Elizabeth line in 2022 makes Paddington one of the UK’s busiest stations. The station remains globally and historically significant, fulfilling Brunel’s vision of connecting London to the world.

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

Zone 3 Gateway to adventure Copy

Did you know?

You can still see steam trains at Paddington station, with regular round trips from Paddington operated by steam railway touring companies.

January 2024

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Zone 3 Gateway to adventure Wayfinding

Paddington Central Grand Union Canal Little Venice

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Zone 3 Gateway to adventure Panels: 22 + 1 (wayfinding)

Themes: 1 & 4 - Heritage and nature: Brunel: original Bishop’s Bridge, canal, barges and industrial heritage (not fish, birds etc)

3 & 2 - Heritage and Transport: Brunel: Paddington Station, Elizabeth Line

Sheldon Sq.

wayfinding 3 Eastbourne Terr.

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Regent’s canal

Bishop’s Bridge Road

4 1

Need to incorporate elements of wayfinding linking to the canalside/Sheldon Square, Paddington Station and Elizabeth Line Loosley follow colour themes/pallete from See Paddington

Paddington Stn.

1: Brunel Building to taxi deck entrance (south)

2: Taxi deck entrance to Eastbourne Terrace (south )

artwork span 3: Adam & Eve to Building to Sheldon Sq entrance (north)

BISHOP’S BRIDGE ROAD W2

4: Sheldon Sq. to Westway Roundabout (north)

title

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

Zone 4 The Grand Union Canal A focus on the history of the canal, its previous uses with a nod to nature and wildlife.

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Zone 4 The Grand Union Canal Interesting features

History of the canal

Movement of goods

Area development

Longboats

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Paddington canal was completed in 1801.

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The Grand Union Canal is the longest canal in the UK

When it was first built its primary function was to transport goods across the city

Roses and castles style was a common fixture on narrowboats around the canals

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Goods were transported from the midlands and the north and unloaded into warehouses along the canal which transformed the surrounding rural area

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The wives and other women folk of the boatmen brought domestic pride and accomplishment onto the boats with them. Their space was limited, and this made them even more determined to make every item bright and attractive.

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During the war with Napoleon, the canal became more important as goods were safer travelling by inland canal than by sea

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Paddington Basin was created in an open field with a single loading building but expanded to be surrounded by other warehouses Sheds around the canal existed until the early 200s when they were replaced with larger buildings which housed a mixture of office and residential spaces alongside cafes and restaurants

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Zone 4 The Grand Union Canal Colour

Pattern

Roses & castles

Waves

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Zone 4 The Grand Union Canal Elevation

The Grand Union Canal

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The Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal opened in July 1801.

Known as the Grand Junction Canal until 1929, it joined the Regent's canal on the latter's completion in 1820 with the formation of Browning's stunning Pool at Little Venice.

Along those canals came the goods and freight, unloaded into mighty warehouses all along the canal’s banks. Today the canal at Paddington is home to a bustling community of floating restaurants, business barges, trip boats and house boats.

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Did you know?

London’s biggest waterways festival, Canalway Cavalcade, takes place every year at Little Venice.

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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Zone 4 The Grand Union Canal Information panels

The Grand Union Canal Large text with ‘zone’ name

The Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal opened in July 1801.

Known as the Grand Junction Canal until 1929, it joined the Regent's canal on the latter's completion in 1820 with the formation of Browning's stunning Pool at Little Venice.

Along those canals came the goods and freight, unloaded into mighty warehouses all along the canal’s banks. Today the canal at Paddington is home to a bustling community of floating restaurants, business barges, trip boats and house boats.

Smaller text with detailed information about The Grand Union Canal

Texture panel

Small motif linked to the theme which can be placed at various points along the section

A pattern or texture based on the theme. The halftone effect will look more abstract when viewing close up and more realistic when viewing from the other side of the bridge

Did you know?

London’s biggest waterways festival, Canalway Cavalcade, takes place every year at Little Venice.

Each theme will have an interesting ‘did you know’ fact

Image panels

Archive images of the canal

Motif panel

Fade out panel

Some panels will have a pattern overlayed on top.

This will act as a link to the ‘fade out’ panels

The pattern is made up of dots the same size as the anti climb dots on the panels.

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

January 2024

Zone 4 The Grand Union Canal Copy

The Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal opened in July 1801.

Known as the Grand Junction Canal until 1929, it joined the Regent's canal on the latter's completion in 1820 with the formation of Browning's stunning Pool at Little Venice.

Along those canals came the goods and freight, unloaded into mighty warehouses all along the canal’s banks. Today the canal at Paddington is home to a bustling community of floating restaurants, business barges, trip boats and house boats.

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

Zone 4 The Grand Union Canal Copy

Did you know?

London’s biggest waterways festival, Canalway Cavalcade, takes place every year at Little Venice.

January 2024

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

January 2024

Zone 4 The Grand Union Canal Panels: 18

Themes: 1 & 4 - Heritage and nature: Brunel: original Bishop’s Bridge, canal, barges and industrial heritage (not fish, birds etc)

3 & 2 - Heritage and Transport: Brunel: Paddington Station, Elizabeth Line

Sheldon Sq.

Eastbourne Terr.

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Regent’s canal

Bishop’s Bridge Road

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Need to incorporate elements of wayfinding linking to the canalside/Sheldon Square, Paddington Station and Elizabeth Line Loosley follow colour themes/pallete from See Paddington

title

Paddington Stn.

1: Brunel Building to taxi deck entrance (south)

2: Taxi deck entrance to Eastbourne Terrace (south )

3: Adam & Eve to Building to Sheldon Sq entrance (north)

BISHOP’S BRIDGE ROAD W2

4: Sheldon Sq. to Westway Roundabout (north)

artwork span

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Mockups

Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

Zone 1 The lost bridge

Zone 2 Station splendour

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

January 2024

Zone 3 Gateway to adventure

Zone 4 The Grand Union Canal

The Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal opened in July 1801.

Known as the Grand Junction Canal until 1929, it joined the Regent's canal on the latter's completion in 1820 with the formation of Browning's stunning Pool at Little Venice.

Along those canals came the goods and freight, unloaded into mighty warehouses all along the canal’s banks. Today the canal at Paddington is home to a bustling community of floating restaurants, business barges, trip boats and house boats.

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Bishop’s Bridge Parapets

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