13th July: Victoria Embankment

Victoria Embankment was officially opened on 13 July 1870 by the Prince of Wales and Princess Louise. Here are ten facts about Victoria Embankment.

1. The Victoria Embankment is part of the A3211 road. It begins at Westminster Bridge, then follows the north bank past Hungerford Bridge and Waterloo Bridge, and ends at Blackfriars Bridge.
2. It was constructed, originally, to provide London with a new sewerage system and relieve traffic congestion on the Strand and Fleet Street. It was also intended to separate the wild and natural river from society.
3. Building started in 1865 and was completed in 1870 under the direction of Joseph Bazalgette. The contractor for the work was Thomas Brassey.
4. It cost around £1,260,000 to build, and £450,000 to purchase the riverside property which would have to be demolished in the process.
5. As well as the roads, public gardens were constructed. The gardens have a bandstand and a statue of Joseph Bazalgette.
6. It was part of a three part project, which also included the Albert Embankment, from the Lambeth end of Westminster Bridge to Vauxhall; and the Chelsea Embankment, from Millbank to the Cadogen Pier at Chelsea, by Battersea Bridge.
7. Victoria Embankment became the first street in Britain to be permanently lit by electricity in December 1878. However, at the time, it proved much more costly than gas, and so gas lighting was re-established in 1884.
8. Ships permanently moored by Victoria Embankment include HMS President, HMS Wellington, and PS Tattershall Castle.
9. London Underground stations along Victoria Embankment are Westminster, Embankment, Charing Cross, Temple and Blackfriars. There is only one Bus, the N550 which runs when the tube is closed at night.
10. Other notable attractions along the route include the General Charles Gordon Memorial, Royal Air Force Memorial, National Submarine War Memorial, Battle of Britain Monument, Cleopatra's Needle and the modernistic Cleopatra's Kiosk.