Bridge of Sighs, Oxford, UK and The 1865 Tāmaki River Bridge, Panmure, New Zealand
Bridge of Sighs
Stuart Delves
Hertford Bridge, better known as the Bridge of Sighs, is a famous bridge in Oxford. With its striking design, it has become a landmark in this city of architectural wonders. Crossing New College Lane, it acts as a link between two Hertford College buildings. Hertford bridge was given its more common name as it was falsely believed to be a replica of the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. In fact, the bridge more closely resembles the Rialto Bridge.
Before going up to Oxford in 1974 I had been on an art appreciation course in Venice, where I had seen the original Bridge of Sighs, as well as the Rialto Bridge. Both these cities hold a special place in my heart as they helped form my aesthetic, and Hertford Bridge, which I often passed on my way to the Radcliffe Camera (a round library that held an extensive collection of Theology books) acted as a reminder and a bridge between the two.
The 1865 Tāmaki River Bridge – Wai o Taiki, Te Tauoma Panmure
Sara-Francesca O’Brien
The Tāmaki River Bridge, completed in 1865, provided access between the fencible (retired soldier) settlements of Panmure, Pakuranga and Howick, in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland and was the first bridge to connect the Auckland isthmus to the surrounding areas. The eastern end connected to what is now Pakuranga Road, while the western end connected with the remains of Mokoia Pā (a fortified settlement) and what is known today as Bridge Street, Panmure. The bridge had 18 fixed spans and a 12-metre, hand-operated swing span, which opened for ships to pass through during favourable tides. The bridge was opened by Robert Graham, Superintendent of the Auckland Province, on 20 October 1865 with speeches and toasts followed by dancing on the kauri deck of the bridge. At this time, the Tāmaki River was one of the busiest waterways in the country.
Historically, the Tāmaki River was also a key transport route for Māori, with waka portages, such as the 200 metre Te Tō Waka at Ōtahuhu, providing access between the two main harbours. The Panmure Basin (Te Kai a Hiku – the food bowl of Hiku) was the den of the tāniwha Mokoiki-hiku-waru – an eight-tailed serpent fish who accompanied the Tainui migratory waka to Aotearoa. The waterways and surrounding fertile land of this area were important - strategically, culturally and spiritually, with thriving Ngāti Pāoa communities located at Mokoia Pā and Mauināina. These communities were devastated during the Musket Wars of the 1820s and were not resettled.
Despite attempts to extend the life of the bridge by tarring its surface in 1900, the swing became difficult to operate, and the bridge was demolished in 1916. The swing-span mechanism and stone abutment are all that remain.
Harmony and Counterpoint
Sara-Francesca ~ river
Stuart ~ bridge
I particularly liked the visual shapes at play here. Well done, both