The Ratchadapisek Bridge in Lampang
Table of Contents
The most beautiful bridge of North Thailand
History of the Rachadapisek Bridge
The iconic Ratchadapisek Bridge in Lampang crosses the Wang River. It is also known as Ratchada or White Bridge. At this location, The constructed a wooden bridge in 1894 to honour the 25th anniversary of the accession of the throne by King Rama V or Chulalongkorn. The bridge collapsed in 1901 under the force of teak logs that floated down the river from the Chae Hom area. They decided to construct a new and stronger bridge with an iron-wood structure at this location. That bridge opened in 1905 but also was not able to withstand the force of teak logs in the flooding season. It collapsed in 1915. Finally, King Rama VI agreed on the construction of a concrete bridge. This bridge opened in 1917 and it is still there.
Teak logging in Lampang
The logging companies that were active in Lampang were the Borneo Company, the Bombay Burma Trading Corporation, the Louis T.Leonowens Co. Ltd. and the Anglo-Siam Corporation. The Danish East Asiatic Company had representation in Lampang but not an office.
“Forest water” from the Chae Hom area northeast of Lampang caused massive flooding of the Wang River on August 27, 1919. Consequently, teak logs damaged houses on Kad Tong Ta which was people called “the Chinese market” at that time. The flood went up to the offices of the Louis T.Leonowens company that were located on the other side of the river before the Rachadapisek Bridge as we found out. The bridge withstood the force of the teak logs.
This picture was taken by Oliver Backhouse from, what we think, the same location.
The flood also went up to the residence of the ruler of Lampang. It receded on August 30. There was a lot of damage.
World War Two in Lampang
During World War Two, forces of the Imperial Japanese Army were stationed in Lampang. Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF) units, early based at Lampang Airfield, flew support sorties for Japan’s successful invasion of Burma in early 1942. After this, the importance of Lampang declined as Japan’s limited manufacturing base, confounded by Allied bombing, was unable to keep up with IJAAF losses. The Japanese command sent new aircraft directly to Japan’s combat fronts in ever-decreasing numbers.
American missionary Lucy Starling
Lampang was an important target for allied airforces but the Ratchadapisek Bridge survived the war. The woman who has saved the Ratchadapisek Bridge was Lucy Starling. She was an American missionary teacher who spent 20 years in Lampang and was the principal of the Vitchanaree School. Before the war started Miss Starling left Siam, in July 1941.
Back in the US she started working for the Office of Strategic Services and became the head of the Thailand desk. Here is the story of how she saved the Ratchadapisek Bridge, as she wrote in her book Dawn over Temple Roofs.
The Bridge survives World War Two
“One day there was brought to my desk a sheaf of papers concerning war strategy in Thailand. Among them was a drawing of the bridge in Lampang, which had been marked for bombing by the allies. I was aghast, for the bridge was a mile from the railroad, and had no strategic value whatsoever. It was a lovely structure and its loss would be a serious inconvenience to the populace. I lost no time in getting the word to headquarters, though I had to wait for months to know if my efforts had been successful. Fifteen years later I was introduced to someone who said: “Oh, you are the lady who saved the bridge in Lampang!” I felt like Horatius, though his bridge was destroyed and he had to swim to safety.”
Apparently the camouflage also made it difficult for Allied planes to spot the bridge.
More old pictures of the Ratchadapisek Bridge. The bridge features in the tours of Chiang Mai a la Carte such as the Classic Lampang Railway Journey and Lampang, Phrae and Nan: Past and Present. It is one of the things to do in Lampang.
Updated: March 14, 2021
