It was heartening to learn that Constable’s magnificent depiction of the opening of Waterloo Bridge has been restored to its original glory (Constable painting of Waterloo Bridge ‘transformed’ by conservation work, 29 April). The 1817 Thames skyline that it reveals, however, is not authentic in at least one detail. In the far right of the picture, just to the west of the bridge on the South Bank, is an image of the Shot Tower, which was built in 1826. Perhaps by 1832, when the painting was completed, the tower had become a landmark feature that provided a convenient visual balance to the composition. The tower continued to make lead shot until 1949, was an important attraction on the Festival of Britain site, and was demolished only in 1962 to make way for the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Nick Rampley
London
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