The Chaloem Sawan 58 Bridge (
Thai
Thai or THAI may refer to:
* Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia
** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand
** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand
*** Thai script
*** Thai (Unicode block ...
: สะพานเฉลิมสวรรค์ ๕๘) was a bridge crossing the northern end of
Khlong Khu Mueang Doem
Rattanakosin Island ( th, เกาะรัตนโกสินทร์, , ) is a historic area in the Phra Nakhon District in the city of Bangkok, Thailand. It is bordered by the Chao Phraya River to the west and various canals to the east t ...
( th, คลองคูเมืองเดิม)), or old
moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that is dug and surrounds a castle, fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive ...
, in
Phra Nakhon District,
Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
. The bridge, built in the axis of
Phra Athit Road
Phra Athit Road ( th, ถนนพระอาทิตย์, , ; lit: ''"Sun Road"'') is located along Chao Phraya River to the northeast. Back in the past this road was full with important buildings such as houses of nobility and mansions as res ...
(
Thai
Thai or THAI may refer to:
* Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia
** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand
** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand
*** Thai script
*** Thai (Unicode block ...
: ถนนพระอาทิตย์), was opened on 23 October 1912 by
King Vajiravudh
Vajiravudh ( th, วชิราวุธ, , 1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth monarch of Siam under the Chakri dynasty as Rama VI. He ruled from 23 October 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his efforts ...
(Rama VI), two years after his father's death,
King Chulalongkorn
Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร ...
(Rama V). Last structure to be built of the Chaloem Bridges Series, which numbered seventeen, it "''was dedicated to
King Rama V
Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร ...
'' ''by
King Rama VI
Vajiravudh ( th, วชิราวุธ, , 1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth monarch of Siam under the Chakri dynasty as Rama VI. He ruled from 23 October 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his effort ...
'' ''on his father's 58th birthday''".
The bridge had four pillars, one at each corner, that were topped by the royal cypher of
King Chulalongkorn
Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร ...
: "จปร" which stands for "มหาจุฬาลงกรณ์ ปรมราชาธิราช"
( ; lit: ''"Chulalongkorn The Great, The Mighty King"''). The name of the bridge was inscribed on two opposite sides at the square base of each pillar as well as the foundation date of the bridge on the two other sides as related to the
Rattanakosin Era: "ศก ๑๓๐", meaning the 130th year of the Rattanakosin Era.
The
trams
A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...
of the Dusit Line (
Thai
Thai or THAI may refer to:
* Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia
** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand
** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand
*** Thai script
*** Thai (Unicode block ...
: สายดุสิต) used to cross the bridge linking the
Phra Athit Road
Phra Athit Road ( th, ถนนพระอาทิตย์, , ; lit: ''"Sun Road"'') is located along Chao Phraya River to the northeast. Back in the past this road was full with important buildings such as houses of nobility and mansions as res ...
(
Thai
Thai or THAI may refer to:
* Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia
** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand
** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand
*** Thai script
*** Thai (Unicode block ...
: ถนนพระอาทิตย์) with the Rachini Alley (
Thai
Thai or THAI may refer to:
* Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia
** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand
** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand
*** Thai script
*** Thai (Unicode block ...
:
ถนนราชินี) until 23 December 1963 when the line was cut between the
Bangkok National Museum
The Bangkok National Museum ( th, พิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติ พระนคร, ) is the main branch museum of the National Museums in Thailand and also one of the largest museums in Southeast Asia. It featu ...
and Baan Maliwan (now the offices of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization).
It was dismantled in 1971 when the
Phra Pinklao bridge
The Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge ( th, สะพานสมเด็จพระปิ่นเกล้า, , ) is a bridge near the Grand Palace over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. It links Rattanakosin Island with Thonburi.
Backg ...
was built at that spot.
At that time, th
Association of Siamese Architects(ASA) and th
Society for the Conservation Of National Treasure and Environment(SCONTE) called for the conservation of the structure to the Bangkok Municipality who "''agreed to re-erect the bridge at an appropriate place''".
Part of the bridge structure was supposed to be rebuilt in
Lumphini Park
Lumphini Park ( th, สวนลุมพินี, , ), also Lumpini or Lumpinee, is a 360 rai () park in Bangkok, Thailand. The park offers rare open public space, trees, and playgrounds in the Thai capital and contains an artificial lake w ...
but due to budgetary constraints this did not materialize.
[Thanwanorn, Samakorn (1973). Chalerm Sawan 58 Bridge. Bangkok, Thailand: Land Survey And Map Division][Field research at Lumphini Park on Friday 25th, August 2017: Survey at the Lumphini Park main office and inspection of every bridge] It was planned instead to use the structure to extend the
Chang Rongsi Bridge but this project was also abandoned.
Notes
"Chaloem" is also frequently found spelled as "Chalerm".
The northern part of "Khlong Khu Mueang Doem" was formerly known as "Khlong Rongmai" (). "Khlong Khu Mueang Doem" is also called popularly "Khlong Lord" ().
The Chaloem Bridges Series started when King Rama V decided in 1894 to annually donate a sum of money to construct a bridge to
commemorate his birthday. The first bridge to be opened was in 1895 ending in 1912 with the Chaloem Sawan 58 Bridge.
The loop around
Rattanakosin Island
Rattanakosin Island ( th, เกาะรัตนโกสินทร์, , ) is a historic area in the Phra Nakhon District in the city of Bangkok, Thailand. It is bordered by the Chao Phraya River to the west and various canals to the east t ...
was known as the "Kamphaeng Mueang Line" ()
See also
*
*
*
*
List of bridges in Thailand
*
List of bridges in Bangkok
*
Chaloem Phao
*
Chaloem Phan 53 Bridge
Chaloem Phan 53 Bridge ( th, สะพานเฉลิมพันธุ์ 53) is a bridge in Bangkok's Yan Nawa sub-district, Sathon district and Si Lom sub-district, Bang Rak District.
History & characteristics
It's the bridge across mouth ...
*
Chaloem La 56 Bridge
*
Phan Fa Lilat Bridge
Phan Fa Lilat Bridge ( th, สะพานผ่านฟ้าลีลาศ, , ; lit: 'bridge on which the ruler of heaven proceeds', refers to "King's Cross Bridge"; usually shortened to "Phan Fa Bridge") is a historic bridge across Khlong Ban ...
*
Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge
Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge ( th, สะพานมัฆวานรังสรรค์, , ; usually shortened to "Makkhawan Bridge") is an historic bridge of inner Bangkok. The bridge spans Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem (Phadung Krung Kasem canal) ...
*
Phan Phiphop Lila Bridge
Phan Phiphop Lila Bridge ( th, สะพานผ่านพิภพลีลา, , ; 'King's Cross Bridge') is a bridge across Khlong Khu Mueang Doem (), or old moat, in Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok. The bridge connects Thanon Ratchadamnoen ...
*
Phra Pin-klao Bridge
The Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge ( th, สะพานสมเด็จพระปิ่นเกล้า, , ) is a bridge near the Grand Palace over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. It links Rattanakosin Island with Thonburi.
Backg ...
References
Further reading and external links
* Pictures gallery of the Chaloem Sawan 58 Bridge: https://www.flickr.com/photos/83391890@N07/albums/72157679653887251
* Video of the Chaloem Sawan 58 Bridge from the movie "Norah" (1966): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sBxaL2RjCU
* (1) Pictures and history (in Thai) of the Chaloem Sawan 58 Bridge: http://www.resource.lib.su.ac.th/rattanakosin/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=177
* (2) Pictures and history (in Thai) of the Chaloem Sawan 58 Bridge: http://203.155.220.238/lsmd/index.php/knowledge-lsmd/bridge-rattanakosin/105-chlermsawan-somdejprapinklao
{{Use British English Oxford spelling, date=June 2018
Bridges in Thailand
Bridges in Bangkok