Early Fox Talbot photograph to be publicly displayed for the first time

^{William Henry Fox Talbot (1800-1877) Hungerford Bridge © Museum of London}

Fox Talbot’s image is estimated to have been made around the year 1845 and depicts the original Hungerford footbridge, designed and built by Isembard Kingdom Brunel.

The bridge connected Hungerford Market on the north bank of the Thames with Lambeth on the south.

Due to its fragility, the photograph will be displayed under strictly controlled lighting conditions.

A spokesperson for the Museum said it was ‘touch and go’ for a while as to whether the image would be able to be displayed at all.

Visitors will be invited to press a button to illuminate the photograph, thus protecting it from any unnecessary exposure to light.

The ‘Bridge’ exhibition runs at the Museum of London Docklands from June 27 to November 2, 2014, with the Fox Talbot image displayed for the first month. Admission is free. See Museum of London for more details.