The Memorial Bridge
Figure 28 Phra Phutta Yodfa Bridge Plan Figure 29 Phra Phutta Yodfa Bridge source: Bangkok Land Survey and Map Division
At the south end of Khlong Rob Krung, the fortress (Pom Jak Petch) had been demolished. The Memorial Bridge (or Phra Phutta Yodfa Bridge, Figure 29), the second bridge crossing the Chao Phraya River (the first bridge is Rama VI Bridge, for trains), had been built to connect Rattanakosin island (east) to Thonburi (west). The creation of the project served two purposes. First, due to the decline of monarchism, King Rama VII desired to create a new symbol that could improve the monarchy image in the commemorate event 150th year of Bangkok. Therefore, the King Rama I Monument had been selected as a representation of the collective memory of the city’s establishment and the founder of Chakri Dynasty. Second, at that time, there was no bridge across the
Chao Phraya River. People had to use the river by boats. The bridge could accommodate people to travel across the river and expanded the urban area to the west side of the river, which is typically used as orchard lands. The project’s construction started in 1929 and was completed in 1932 in the commemoration of the 150th year of Bangkok and Chakri Dynasty, briefly before the Siam Revolution of 1932 in the same year. The project comprises two parts – a bascule bridge and King Rama I memorial. The layout was designed as an arrow derived from the royal seal of King Rama VII. The arrow directs from King Rama I memorial, a
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