TQ0371 : Old Bridge Cottage, The Hythe, Staines

Old Bridge Cottage was built in c1791 as part of a toll-house on the site of an earlier Swan Inn which dated from the 15th century. In the late 18th century this inn was demolished to make way for a new bridge linking Staines to Egham and replacing the earlier wooden bridge. The bridge was made from stone, but soon developed cracks. It was replaced by a metal bridge, but this also failed. By 1808 the Government admitted defeat and reverted to using the old wooden bridge, which luckily had not yet been demolished. The present Staines Bridge was opened in 1832, 200 yards upstream of here. This diverted traffic away from here and today this is now a private house.