Name: London Bridge
Address: London EC4R 3TN, UK
Rating: 4.6

Concrete pedestrian and traffic bridge that gave a major railway station its name.

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Hyde Park

There have been several bridges named 'London Bridge' built on or near the same site, dating back to Roman times. They were constructed of different materials, including wood and stone.

Bridges on the Site

In 1968, the 1831 London Bridge was sold to Robert P. McCulloch, an American entrepreneur, for $2.46 million. He had it dismantled and shipped to Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

Sold to an American

The 1831 London Bridge now stands in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where it has become a popular tourist attraction. Many believed McCulloch thought he was buying Tower Bridge.

Rebuilt in the USA

The London Bridge that was shipped to Arizona was built in 1831 and designed by John Rennie the Younger. It replaced an earlier medieval bridge.

Nineteenth-Century Bridge

The current London Bridge, opened in 1973, is a modern concrete and steel box girder bridge. It's a far cry from its stone predecessors.

Current Bridge Material

The current London Bridge was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on March 16, 1973.

Opening Year

London Bridge

London Bridge, a structure often confused with Tower Bridge, has a surprisingly turbulent history, having been rebuilt multiple times. The current iteration, opened in 1973, is not the picturesque Victorian bridge many imagine. In fact, the previous London Bridge, a 19th-century stone arch bridge, was famously sold and transported to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in the United States. This relocation stemmed from concerns about its sinking into the Thames due to increased traffic. The nursery rhyme "London Bridge is Falling Down" likely refers to earlier, less robust versions of the bridge that suffered damage from fires, battles, and the relentless currents of the river. Interestingly, for a period, shops and houses lined the bridge, creating a bustling, albeit precarious, thoroughfare above the Thames. The bridge's history is a testament to London's enduring need for connection and its constant evolution.

Introduction

London Bridge's historical significance is rooted in its multiple iterations, each reflecting different eras and engineering capabilities. Initially erected by the Romans around AD 50, it facilitated trade and military movements, marking London's importance as a strategic location. After the Roman departure, the bridge fell into disrepair, later rebuilt by Alfred the Great or Æthelred the Unready to counter Danish invasions. A pivotal moment occurred in 1014 when Olaf, allied with Æthelred, purportedly destroyed the bridge to divide Danish forces.

Following the Norman Conquest, William I rebuilt it, with subsequent repairs and replacements leading to the construction of Old London Bridge in 1209. Commissioned by King Henry II, this stone structure featured a chapel dedicated to Thomas Becket, transforming the bridge into a religious landmark and pilgrimage starting point. The bridge was not merely a crossing; it evolved into a bustling area with houses and shops, becoming an integral part of London's commercial life.

In 1633, a fire destroyed the houses on the northern part of the bridge, creating a firebreak that prevented the Great Fire of London in 1666 from spreading to Southwark. The eventual demolition of these houses in 1761 marked the end of an era. The 19th-century bridge, while an engineering marvel of its time, eventually succumbed to structural issues, leading to its replacement in 1973 with the current concrete and steel structure. Each bridge contributes to the layered history of London, reflecting the city's evolving needs and architectural styles.

Historical Significance

Tower Bridge's engineering evolution is marked by its unique combination of bascule and suspension bridge designs, conceived to address the late 19th-century demands of London's growing East End while preserving access to the Pool of London. The initial design phase saw Horace Jones's arched form abandoned due to concerns about obstructing ship masts, leading to John Wolfe Barry's pivotal concept of a "level soffit" for the upper bridge, enabling the project's progression. Constructed between 1886 and 1894, the bridge integrates suspension spans from shore to piers, a central bascule section for river traffic, and high-level walkways initially designed as cantilever bridges.

The bridge's operational mechanisms have seen significant evolution. Originally powered by hydraulic systems, the bridge underwent a major upgrade in 1974, transitioning to an electro-hydraulic drive system. This modernization, designed by Geoffrey Beresford Hartwell, maintained the original final pinions but replaced the driving force with modern hydraulic motors. Further technological integration occurred in the 21st century with the installation of a computer system for remote bascule operation, though initial unreliability led to sensor replacements in 2005. The high-level walkways, initially closed in 1910 due to disrepute, reopened in 1982 as part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition, later enhanced structurally in 1960 by converting them from cantilever to suspension bridges with added suspension cables.

Engineering Evolution

The Tower Bridge underwent a significant architectural transformation in 1974 when its original operating mechanism was largely superseded by a new electro-hydraulic drive system. This update, designed by Geoffrey Beresford Hartwell, incorporated modern hydraulic motors while retaining the original final pinions. Further enhancing its appeal, the Tower Bridge Exhibition opened in 1982, inviting the public into the bridge's twin towers, the long-closed high-level walkways, and the Victorian engine rooms, where the original steam engines and hydraulic machinery remain on display.

In the 21st century, a computer system was introduced to remotely control the bascules; however, initial unreliability led to the bridge occasionally becoming stuck. A comprehensive £4 million refurbishment project commenced in April 2008, lasting four years. This involved stripping the existing paint to bare metal and repainting the structure in blue and white, a change from the red, white, and blue color scheme adopted in 1977 for Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. The renovation included a state-of-the-art coating system for the four suspension chains, completed in March 2010, and the installation of an RGB LED lighting system, carefully concealed within the bridge's superstructure to preserve its Grade I listing.

During the 2012 London Olympics, the west walkway was transformed into a 200-foot-long Live Music Sculpture by Samuel Bordoli, featuring thirty classical musicians. Following the Olympics, the Olympic rings were replaced by the emblem of the Paralympic Games for the 2012 Summer Paralympics.

Architectural Transformation

The River Thames, a significant barrier throughout history, has been crossed at various points, with the original crossings being fords. One notable location is where the Romans built London Bridge, suggesting a prehistoric ford existed there. London Bridge and Staines Bridge were the earliest major crossings of the Thames by the Romans.

Kingston Bridge served as the sole crossing between London Bridge and Staines until the 18th century. Proposals to construct bridges at Lambeth/Westminster and Putney/Fulham around 1670 were opposed by the Company of Watermen, fearing it would harm the ferry services operated by 60,000 rivermen.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, numerous bridges were constructed, including Westminster, Putney and Tower Bridge. Tower Bridge stands out as the only bascule bridge on the river, allowing ocean-going ships to pass. During the first year after Tower Bridge opened, the bascules were raised 6,160 times, averaging seventeen times daily. Currently, the bascules are raised approximately a thousand times a year, with river traffic taking priority over road traffic. Today, opening the bridge requires 24 hours' notice and is published on the bridge's website.

River Thames Crossing

During the medieval period, London Bridge was not just a crossing but a vibrant, inhabited structure integral to the city's life. Initially rebuilt, possibly by Alfred the Great or Æthelred the Unready, to address Danish invasions, it was later reconstructed in stone starting in 1176, a project overseen initially by Peter of Colechurch and later, perhaps, by Isembert, a French engineer. Completed in 1209, this bridge featured a chapel dedicated to Thomas Becket, reflecting the religious devotion of the era and serving as a key starting point for pilgrimages.

The bridge's design included nineteen piers supported by timber piles, with starlings protecting them, significantly narrowing the river's width and creating dangerous rapids. This design influenced river traffic and even caused upstream freezing in winter. Uniquely, the bridge was lined with houses, a common practice to fund its maintenance, managed from 1282 by Bridge House wardens. These houses, supported by the piers, contributed to the bridge's width of 20 to 24 feet.

Maintenance was a constant issue, with collapses occurring in 1281 and 1437 due to neglect. A major fire in 1212 further impacted the structure and life on the bridge. Despite these challenges, the bridge remained a vital part of London's infrastructure until the removal of the houses in 1761 and its eventual replacement in the 19th century due to its impediment to river traffic.

London Bridge

Did You Know?

Bridges on the Site

Sold to an American

Rebuilt in the USA

Nineteenth-Century Bridge

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