TREASURE DESCRIPTION: White bridge within the Grove Park Carshalton, forming part of a gentle pathway between the large pond and the river. Small but elegant.
We know that Giacomo Leoni was in England for approximately 30yrs but only received 22 commissions which are known and none are noted as particularly architectural gems of the period. His biggest commission in England was for a house for Thomas Scawen one of the richest men in England. The house would be huge, Baroque in style, and the scale of Blenheim. In other words a palace. The plans were drawn up in 1727 but the palace was never built. ‘The Leoni Bridge’ in the Grove Park although not of a grand scale is still elegant, almost Wren in appearance, the central keyblock with the crest showing the Scawen coat of arms.
These treasures were made as part of The Building Exploratory, Wandle Treasures project. This project was part of the wider Living Wandle Landscape Partnership Scheme, funded by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.
