Hammersmith history

Hammersmith takes its name, fairly obviously, from “hammer” and the “smithy” where the hammer would have been used to make metal implements. The town grew around the crossing of two main roads out of London. Attractive houses such as Hammersmith Terrace (1755) were built in the 18th century along the river from the present day Hammersmith Bridge to Chiswick. Hammersmith Bridge was the first suspension bridge in London when it was built in 1824. Sir Joseph Bazalgette designed the replacement bridge which was constructed in 1883-7.