First bridge over Singapore River

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It was an unnamed footbridge that provided the crossing, immortalised in illustrations of old Singapore and the River.

The first bridge over the Singapore River was an unnamed wooden footbridge, erected in 1819. It is presumed that the location then was where Elgin Bridge stands today. In 1822, it was replaced by another narrow wooden footbridge, the Presentment Bridge, built in November 1822 under the direction of Philip Jackson, Lieutenant. The Presentment Bridge, also known as Monkey Bridge, was the only crossing on the Singapore River until the Coleman Bridge was built in 1840, over another section of the river. The Presentment Bridge was a predecessor to the Elgin Bridge.

This first narrow, unnamed wooden footbridge, can be seen in illustrations and artists' impressions of early Singapore and the Singapore River.



Author
Vernon Cornelius



References
Cheong, C. (1992). Framework and foundation: A history of the Public Works Department (p. 50). Singapore: Times Editions.
(Call no.: SING 354.5957008609)

Edwards, N., & Keys, P. (1988). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (pp. 493, 495). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 915.957 EDW)

Tyers, R. K. (1993). Ray Tyers' Singapore: Then and now (pp. 7-8). Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 TYE)


Further Readings
Hall-Jones, J. (1979). An early surveyor in Singapore: John Turnbull Thomson in Singapore, 1841-1853 (pp. 80-81). Singapore: National Museum.
(Call no.: RSING 526.90924 THO. H)



The information in this article is valid as at 1998 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic. 

Subject
Architecture and Landscape>>Streets and Places
Commerce and Industry>>Transportation
Historic bridges--Singapore
Footbridges--Singapore
Arts>>Architecture>>Architectural structure
History>>Asia>>Southeast Asia>>Singapore