Coordinates: 51°30′29″N, 0°05′16″W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

London Bridge is a bridge in London, England over the River Thames, between the City of London and Southwark. It is between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge; it also forms the western end of the Pool of London. London's original bridge made this one of the most famous bridge emplacements in the world. It was the only bridge over the Thames in London until Westminster Bridge was opened in 1750. On the south side of the bridge is Southwark Cathedral and London Bridge station. On the north side is the Monument to the Great Fire of London and Monument tube station. Image File history File linksMetadata London_Bridge,_November_2005. ... The A3 is a trunk road in Southern England, connecting London to Portsmouth. ... The Thames (pronounced //) is a river flowing through southern England, and one of the major waterways in England. ... Inner London is the name for the group of London boroughs which form the central part of Greater London and are surrounded by Outer London. ... The Greater London Authority (GLA) administers the 1579 km² (610 sq. ... Traditional reinforced concrete is based on the use of steel reinforcement bars, rebar, inside poured concrete. ... A box girder bridge is a bridge commonly used for roadway flyovers and for modern elevated structures of light rail transport. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... London Bridge can be: A bridge in London (England, United Kingdom), see London Bridge A bridge in Lake Havasu City (Arizona, United States), see London Bridge (Lake Havasu City) A neighbourhood in Virginia Beach (Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States), see London Bridge (Virginia Beach) London Bridge railway station A natural... A log bridge in the French Alps near Vallorcine. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... The Thames (pronounced //) is a river flowing through southern England, and one of the major waterways in England. ... The City of London is a geographically-small city within Greater London, England. ... The Borough or Southwark is an area of the London Borough of Southwark situated 1. ... Cannon Street Railway Bridge Cannon Street Railway Bridge is a bridge in central London, crossing the River Thames. ... For the bridge of the same name in California, see Tower Bridge (California). ... View of the Pool of London from London Bridge, 1841 Originally, the Pool of London was the stretch of the River Thames forming the south side of the City of London. ... Westminster Bridge and the Palace of Westminster, with a glimpse of Westminster Abbey behind the tower of Big Ben. ... Southwark Cathedral Southwark Cathedral or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge. ... London Bridge station is a National Rail and London Underground station in the London Borough of Southwark, which occupies a large area on two levels, immediately south-east of London Bridge and 1. ... The Monument seen from the ground The Monument to the Great Fire of London, more commonly known as The Monument is a 61-metre (202-foot) tall stone Roman doric column in the City of London, near to the northern end of London Bridge. ... For the station called Monument on the Tyne and Wear Metro, see Monument Metro station Bank and Monument are interlinked stations, spanning the length of King William Street in the City of London. ...

The bridge is designated as part of the A3 road, maintained by the Greater London Authority,^[1] however the bridge is privately owned and maintained by the Bridge House Trust charity. The A3 is a trunk road in Southern England, connecting London to Portsmouth. ... The Greater London Authority (GLA) administers the 1579 km² (610 sq. ... Bridge House Estates (also known as the Bridge House Trust) is an ancient London-based trust, still in operation today. ...

Tower Bridge is often mistakenly referred to as London Bridge.^[2] For the bridge of the same name in California, see Tower Bridge (California). ...

History

A bridge has existed at or near the present site for nearly 2000 years. The first bridge across the Thames in the London area was built of wood by the Romans on the present site around 60 AD. The location was most likely chosen as a bridgeable spot which still had deepwater access to the sea. The bridge fell into disrepair after the Romans left, but at some point either it was repaired or a new timber replacement constructed, probably more than once. In 1014, the bridge was torn down by the Norwegian king Olaf, as he was aiding king Aethelred in a successful bid to divide the defending forces of the Danes who held the walled City of London plus Southwark, thereby regaining London for the Anglo-Saxon king. This episode might have inspired the well-known nursery rhyme London Bridge is Falling Down although the version of the song we know today refers to the many bridges that were destroyed and rebuilt, and the trading done on the shops over it ("Silver and Gold") in the 14th century [1] so the song's origin is presumably of a much later date. The rebuilt London Bridge was destroyed by a storm in 1091 and yet again, this time by fire, in 1136. A log bridge in the French Alps near Vallorcine. ... Several places exist with the name Thames, and the word is also used as part of several brand and company names Most famous is the River Thames in England, on which the city of London stands Other Thames Rivers There is a Thames River in Canada There is a Thames... Principal sites in Roman Britain Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between 43 and 410. ... Olaf II Haraldsson (995 – July 29, 1030), king from 1015–1028, (known during his lifetime as the Stout and after his canonization as Saint Olaf), was born in the year in which Olaf Tryggvason came to Norway. ... Ethelred II (Old English: Æþelred) (c. ... The famous parade helmet found at Sutton Hoo, probably belonging to King Raedwald of East Anglia circa 625. ... A nursery rhyme is a traditional rubbish sony that edgar nursery invented while feeding a pig from his asssong or poem taught to young children, originally in the nursery. ... London Bridge is falling down is a well-known traditional nursery rhyme. ...

Old London Bridge

A contemporary drawing showing Old London Bridge in 1616, with Southwark Cathedral in the foreground

This pedestrian alcove is one of the surviving fragments of the old London Bridge that was demolished in 1831.

Following the 1136 destruction of London bridge, its maintainer Peter de Colechurch proposed to replace the timber bridge with a permanent stone construction. A tax was levied to fund the new stone bridge, and construction of a new stone bridge was begun in the reign of Henry II, under de Colechurch's direction, in 1176. The new bridge took 33 years to complete and was not finished until 1209, during the reign of King John. Image File history File links London_Bridge_(1616)_by_Claes_Van_Visscher. ... Image File history File links London_Bridge_(1616)_by_Claes_Van_Visscher. ... Southwark Cathedral Southwark Cathedral or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (640x773, 217 KB) Summary Pedestrian alcove from Old London Bridge, Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, London. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (640x773, 217 KB) Summary Pedestrian alcove from Old London Bridge, Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, London. ... Henry II of England (5 March 1133 – 6 July 1189) ruled as Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, and as King of England (1154–1189) and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland, eastern Ireland, and western France. ... John deer hunting, from a manuscript in the British Library. ...

John had the idea to build houses on the bridge, and it was soon colonised by houses, shops and even a chapel built at the centre of the bridge (dedicated to the recently martyred and canonised Thomas Becket who, appropriately, had been born in the parish of St Mary Colechurch). St. Thomas Chapel was grander than many small town parish churches. It even had a river level entrance for fishermen and those who taxied passengers across the river. (St. ...

The medieval bridge had 20 small arches and a drawbridge with a defensive gatehouse at the southern end. Contemporary pictures show it crowded with buildings of up to seven stories in height. The narrowness of the arches meant that it acted as a partial barrage over the Thames, restricting water flow and thereby making the river more susceptible to freezing over in winter because of the slower currents. The current was further obstructed by the addition of water-wheels under the two north arches to drive water pumps, and under the two south arches to power grain mills. This produced ferocious rapids between the piers or "starlings" of the bridge, as the difference between the water levels on each side could be as much as six feet (two metres).^[3] Only the brave or foolhardy attempted to "shoot the bridge" – steer a boat between the starlings – and many were drowned trying to do so. As the saying went, the bridge was "for wise men to pass over, and for fools to pass under."^[4] Drawbridge at the fort of Ponta da Bandeira; Lagos, Portugal A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle, but the term is often used to describe all different types of movable bridges, like bascule bridges and lift bridges. ... Sluice gates on the River Thames A sluice is a water channel that is controlled at its head by a gate. ... This article is about cereals in general. ... For the type of foundation, see Deep foundation. ...

The decision of King John to allow shops to be built on London Bridge slowed down the traffic crossing the river. The houses and shops took up space and when carts broke down or animals revolted, crossing the bridge could take up to an hour. For this reason people on foot often chose to use the dozens of river taxi boats that quickly ferried Londoners from shore to shore. John deer hunting, from a manuscript in the British Library. ...

Although the bridge itself was about twenty-six feet wide, the buildings on the bridge took up about seven feet on each side of the street. Some of these buildings projected another seven feet out over the river. The road for traffic was thereby reduced to just twelve feet wide. This meant that horses, carts, wagons, and pedestrians all shared a passage way just six feet wide, one lane going north and one south. There were a few places where houses and shops were not built. These breaks allowed people to get out of the pushing traffic and enjoy a glimpse of the Thames and the shorelines of London. Most people who visited the bridge, for reasons other than crossing the Thames, went there to shop. Nearly two hundred places of business lined both sides of the narrow street. Ale and beer were not sold on the London bridge because these beverages required cool cellars, which were not possible in a building constructed on a bridge. The merchants lived above their shops and sold goods from the street level floor. They used windows to show their goods and transact business. Over each shop hung a sign usually in the shape of the articles sold in order that the illiterate could recognize the nature of the business. These signs were posted high enough that a rider on a horse could pass beneath them. Every inch of the small street had to be available to vehicular traffic. Several places exist with the name Thames, and the word is also used as part of several brand and company names Most famous is the River Thames in England, on which the city of London stands Other Thames Rivers There is a Thames River in Canada There is a Thames...

One of the benefits of shopping on London Bridge was that many of the top floors of the houses and shops were built over the street and actually connected to the house or shop across the street, giving the street a tunnel look. These connecting overhead structures provided shelter from the weather and was a forerunner of the modern shopping mall.

The gates to London Bridge were closed at curfew, and the bridge was regarded as a safe place to live or shop. Located neither in London nor in Southwark, the Bridge community was almost a town unto itself. The major thievery was the ever-present pickpocket. Its greatest dangers were fire and death by drowning as few people knew how to swim. The Borough or Southwark is an area of the London Borough of Southwark situated 1. ...

Various arches of the bridge collapsed at various points, and houses on the bridge were burnt during Wat Tyler's Peasants' Revolt in 1381 and Jack Cade's rebellion in 1450, during which a pitched battle was fought on the bridge. Wat Tylers Death Walter Tyler, commonly known as Wat Tyler (died June 15, 1381) was the leader of the English Peasants Revolt of 1381. ... The end of the revolt: Wat Tyler killed by Walworth while Richard II watches, and a second image of Richard addressing the crowd The Peasants Revolt, Tyler’s Rebellion, or the Great Rising of 1381 was one of a number of popular revolts in late medieval Europe and is a... Jack Cade (possibly named John Mortimer) was the leader of a popular revolt in late medieval Europe in the 1450 Kent rebellion which took place in the time of King Henry VI in England. ...

The northern gate, the New Stone Gate, was replaced by Nonesuch House in 1577. The southern gatehouse, the Stone Gateway, became the scene of one of London's most notorious sights: a display of the severed heads of traitors, impaled on pikes and dipped in tar to preserve them against the elements. The head of William Wallace was the first to appear on the gate, in 1305, starting a tradition that was to continue for another 355 years. Other famous heads on pikes included those of Jack Cade in 1450; Sir Thomas More in 1535; Bishop John Fisher, also in 1535; and Thomas Cromwell in 1540. A German visitor to London in 1598 counted over thirty heads on the bridge. The practice was finally stopped in 1660, following the Restoration of King Charles II. For other persons named William Wallace, see William Wallace (disambiguation). ... Jack Cade (possibly named John Mortimer) was the leader of a popular revolt in late medieval Europe in the 1450 Kent rebellion which took place in the time of King Henry VI in England. ... There are also several institutions named Thomas More College. ... For John Arbuthnot Fisher, British admiral, see Jackie Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher. ... Thomas Cromwell: detail from a portrait by Hans Holbein, 1532-3 Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex ( 1485 - July 28, 1540) was an English statesman, one of the most important political figures of the reign of Henry VIII of England. ... Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was the King of England, King of Scots, and King of Ireland from 30 January 1649 (de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ...

The buildings on London Bridge created a major fire hazard and served to increase the load on its arches, so it is not surprising that there were several disasters on the bridge. In 1212, perhaps the greatest of the early fires of London broke out on both ends of the bridge simultaneously, trapping many in the middle and reportedly resulting in 3,000 people being killed. Another major fire broke out in 1633 with the northern third of the bridge being destroyed, although this prevented the bridge from being damaged by the Great Fire of London in 1666. By 1722, congestion was becoming so serious that the Lord Mayor decreed that "All carts, coaches and other carriages coming out of Southwark into this City do keep all along the west side of the said bridge: and all carts and coaches going out of the City do keep along the east side of the said bridge". This is possibly the origin of traffic in Britain driving on the left, though it is not the only possible explanation. Finally, in 1758-62, the houses were removed along with the two centre arches, replaced with a single wider span to improve navigation on the river. [This article refers to London fires predating the fire of 1666. ... Detail of painting from 1666 of the Great Fire of London by an unknown artist, depicting the fire as it would have appeared on the evening of Tuesday, 4 September from a boat in the vicinity of Tower Wharf. ...

New London Bridge

New London Bridge in the early 1890s

By the end of the 18th century, it was apparent that the old London Bridge - by now over 600 years old - needed to be replaced. It was narrow, decrepit, and blocked river traffic. In 1799, a competition for designs to replace the old bridge was held, prompting the engineer Thomas Telford to propose a bridge with a single iron arch spanning 600 ft (180 m). However, this design was never used, owing to uncertainty about its feasibility and the amount of land needed for its construction. The bridge was eventually replaced by a structure of five stone arches, designed by engineer John Rennie. The new bridge was built 100 feet (30 m) west (upstream) of the original site at a cost of £2,000,000 and was completed by Rennie's son (of the same name) over a seven-year period from 1824 to 1831. The old bridge continued in use as the new bridge was being built, and was demolished after the new bridge opened in 1831. The contractors were Jolliffe and Banks of Merstham, Surrey. A fragment from the old bridge is set into the tower arch inside the St Katherines Church, Merstham. London Bridge, stereopticon card photo from early 1890s This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... London Bridge, stereopticon card photo from early 1890s This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Thomas Telford (August 9, 1757 - September 2, 1834) was born in Westerkirk, Scotland. ... John Rennie (7 June 1761 in East Linton, Scotland - 4 October 1821) was a civil engineer, constructing many bridges, canals, and docks. ... ISO 4217 Code GBP User(s) United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies Inflation 3. ... John Rennie. ... Merstham is a village in the Reigate and Banstead borough of Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. ... Merstham is a village in the Reigate and Banstead borough of Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. ...

Rennie's bridge had a length of 928 feet (283 m) and a width of 49 feet (15 m). Haytor granite was used in the construction, transported via the unique Haytor Granite Tramway. The official opening took place on 1 August 1831; King William IV and Queen Adelaide attended a banquet in a pavilion erected on the bridge. The recently constructed HMS Beagle was the first ship to pass under it. It was widened in 1902-4 from 52 to 65 feet (16 to 20 m) in an attempt to combat London's chronic traffic congestion. Unfortunately, this proved too much for the bridge's foundations; it was subsequently discovered that the bridge was sinking an inch every eight years. By 1924, the east side of the bridge was some three to four inches lower than the west side; it soon became apparent that the old bridge would have to be removed and replaced with a more modern one. Haytor Haytor or Hay Tor is a granite tor on Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. ... The Haytor Granite Tramway was a unique granite-railed tramway on Hay Tor, Dartmoor, Devon. ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... Leopold I 1831 (MDCCCXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... William IV (William Henry; 21 August 1765 – 20 June 1837) was King of the United Kingdom and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death. ... Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen (Adelaide Louise Theresa Caroline Amelia) ( 13 August 1792 - 2 December 1849 ) as Queen Adelaide was the Queen consort of King William IV of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ... HMS Beagle was a Cherokee class 10-gun brig of the Royal Navy, named after the beagle, a breed of dog. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ...

The rebuilt London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Under construction, March 1971

On 18 April 1968, Rennie's bridge was sold to the American entrepreneur Robert P. McCulloch of McCulloch Oil for US$2,460,000. A popular urban legend is that he believed mistakenly that he was buying the more impressive Tower Bridge, although McCulloch denied this. ^[5] As the bridge was disassembled, each piece was numbered to aid reassembly and those markings can still be seen today. The bridge was reconstructed at Lake Havasu City, Arizona and re-dedicated on October 10, 1971. The reconstruction of Rennie's London Bridge spans a man-made canal that leads from Lake Havasu to Thomson Bay, and forms the centrepiece of a theme park in English style, complete with mock-Tudor shopping mall. Rennie's London Bridge has become Arizona's second-biggest tourist attraction, after the Grand Canyon. Photo of the reconstructed London Bridge in Lake Havasu, Arizona. ... Photo of the reconstructed London Bridge in Lake Havasu, Arizona. ... Lake Havasu City is a city in Mohave County, Arizona, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 41,938. ... Image File history File links London-Bridge-March-1971. ... Image File history File links London-Bridge-March-1971. ... April 18 is the 108th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (109th in leap years). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday. ... For other uses, see Robert McCulloch (disambiguation). ... See also McCulloch (disambiguation) and Robert P. McCulloch McCulloch Motors Corporation is a manufacturer of chainsaws. ... An urban legend or urban myth is a kind of modern folklore consisting of stories often thought to be factual by those circulating them. ... For the bridge of the same name in California, see Tower Bridge (California). ... Lake Havasu City is a city in Mohave County, Arizona, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 41,938. ... October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years). ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ... The Tudor style, a term applied to the Perpendicular style, was originally that of the English architecture and decorative arts produced under the Tudor dynasty that ruled England from 1485 to 1603, characterized as an amalgam of Late Gothic style formalized by more concern for regularity and symmetry, with round... McArthur Glen Designer Outlet, Swindon, England, a shopping mall built within a disused railway engine works. ... Official language(s) English Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Area  Ranked 6th  - Total 113,998 sq mi (295,254 km²)  - Width 310 miles (500 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 0. ... The Grand Canyon is a very colorful, steep-sided gorge, carved by the Colorado River, in the U.S. state of Arizona. ...

The version of London Bridge that was rebuilt at Lake Havasu consists of a concrete frame with stones from the old London Bridge used as cladding. Not all of the bridge was transported to America, as some was kept behind in lieu of tax duties. The remaining stone was left at Merrivale Quarry on Dartmoor in Devon, so a large part of Rennie's bridge never left the UK. When Merrivale Quarry was abandoned and flooded in 2003, some of the remaining stones were sold in an online auction. London Bridge in Lake Havasu City The sign on London Bridge, Lake Havasu City, during April 2005 The London Bridge, currently located in Lake Havasu City, Arizona was originally constructed in London, England in 1831. ... High Willhays, the highest point on Dartmoor and southern England at 621 m (2037 ft) above sea level, with Yes Tor beyond. ... “Devonshire” redirects here. ...

Modern London Bridge

London Bridge at 8 in the morning. The bridge is a major commuter route into the City of London

The current London Bridge was designed by Mott, Hay and Anderson, constructed by contractors John Mowlem and Co from 1967 to 1972, and opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 17 March 1973. It comprises three spans of prestressed concrete box girders, a total 928 feet (283 m) long. The bridge was built for functionality and longevity, and as such is noticeably less decorative than other Thames bridges. The cost of £4 million was met entirely by the City of London's Bridge House Estates. The current bridge was built in the same location as Rennie's bridge, with the previous bridge remaining in use while the first two girders were constructed upstream and downstream. Traffic was then transferred onto the two new girders, and the previous bridge demolished to allow the final two central girders to be added.^[6] Image File history File links Londonbridge. ... Image File history File links Londonbridge. ... The City of London is a geographically-small city within Greater London, England. ... Mott MacDonald is a UK based multi-disciplinary management, engineering and development consultancy. ... Mowlem is one of the UKs largest construction and engineering companies. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (77th in leap years). ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Traditional reinforced concrete is based on the use of steel reinforcement bars, rebar, inside poured concrete. ... A box girder bridge is a bridge commonly used for roadway flyovers and for modern elevated structures of light rail transport. ... Bridge House Estates is a trust in London. ...

In 1984 the British warship HMS Jupiter collided with London Bridge causing significant damage to both ship and bridge. On Remembrance Day 2004, various London bridges were furnished with red lighting as part of a night-time flight along the river by wartime aircraft. London Bridge was the one bridge not subsequently stripped of the illuminations, which are switched on at night. HMS Jupiter (F60) was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN). ... Wreaths of artificial poppies used as a symbol of remembrance Remembrance Day (United Kingdom, Australia, Canada), also known as Poppy Day (South Africa and Malta), and Armistice Day (United Kingdom, New Zealand, France, and many other Commonwealth countries; and the original name of the holiday internationally) is a day to...

Bibliography

• Jackson, Peter, "London Bridge - A Visual History", Historical Publications, revised edition, 2002, ISBN 0-948667-82-6
• Murray, Peter & Stevens, Mary Anne, "Living Bridges - The inhabited bridge, past, present and future", Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1996, ISBN 3-7913-1734-2
• Pierce, Patricia, "Old London Bridge - The Story of the Longest Inhabited Bridge in Europe", Headline Books, 2001, ISBN 0-7472-3493-0
• Yee, Albert, "London Bridge - Progress Drawings", no publisher, 1974, no ISBN

References

March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (90th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (90th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ...

External links

• Map and aerial photo of London Bridge from Multimap.com
• Other map and aerial photo sources
• London Bridge did fall down
• Southwark Council page with more info about the bridge
• Lyrics to the song 'London Bridge is falling down'
• Virtual reality tour of Old London Bridge
• Futurist project of an inhabited London Bridge