Waterloo Bridge re-listed as a result of Christine Wall’s research

Historic England recently amended the list description for Waterloo Bridge to take in to account research by University of Westminster’s architectural historian Christine Wall into the history of its construction during the Second World War.

women-welders-waterloo-bridge-london — Historic caption: ‘Girl acetylene welders were at their job as usual today, cutting the girders of the temporary Waterloo Bridge, which is being dismantled.’ Evidence discovered by Dr Christine Wall © Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum, Science & Society Picture Library. Source: https://www.historicengland.org.uk/news-and-features/news/england-built-by-women

The bridge, known to many Londoners as the ‘Ladies’ Bridge’, was built by contractor Peter Lind. Christine’s research, including an interview with the contractor’s daughter Betty Lind, has verified the story that women worked on the bridge during the war. The news item was released on National Women in Engineering Day, last Wednesday, and was circulated widely in the press including the BBC website where you can still find it here.

Two female builders carry hods of bricks on a building site, 1941 © Imperial War Museum. Source: https://www.historicengland.org.uk/news-and-features/news/england-built-by-women

The re-listing by Heritage Minister Tracey Crouch is covered here on Historic England website here. The news was also a key component in social media action on 23^rd June when #BuiltByWomen trended in London around midday.