London Bridge London Bridge Author Channing Hyde Supervising Editor Kate McPherson Editor Kate McPherson Copy Editor Leah Hamby Senior Encoder Leah Hamby Encoding and Metadata LEMDO Team Copyright Holder (Content) Kate McPherson Copyright Holder (XML and interface) University of Victoria Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Mitacs Globalink Research Internship Utah Valley University

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Early Modern England Encyclopedia

By Channing Hyde, inspired by Michael Best’s Shakespeare’s Life and Times, Internet Shakespeare Editions

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For nearly 900 years, and through various constructions and designs, London Bridge has been one of the central avenues for crossing the River Thames between the City of London and the Borough of Southwark. Residents of and visitors to the London area would have used the bridge regularly to travel by foot or horse, as the only other way to cross the river was by boat. The current concrete London Bridge, which is not same as the iconic Tower Bridge erected in 1894, opened in 1973 and still stands as a major traffic artery.

Structure

London Bridge was originally constructed out of wood during Roman times and remained wooden into the early Middle Ages. In the mid-twelfth century, it was reconstructed under the direction of Peter Colechurch, with sturdier stone replacing the wood.

The medieval bridge was approximately 900 feet in length, about 40 feet wide, and stood almost 60 feet above the river tide. It consisted of 19 arches, with gates and a drawbridge was located at the southern end. The design of the bridge arches made it almost impossible for ships to travel under the bridge.

Buildings and residences lined the bridge, with St. Thomas Chapel located near the center. Over the centuries, the bridge became a tunnel of sorts, as taller buildings were added. At its narrowest, the width of the road was a mere 12 feet. Because of the bridge’s centrality and because it was the only way to cross the river on foot, horse, or cart, London Bridge was always bustling. The multitude of people crossing from the south into the City of London had to pass beneath the decapitated heads of executed traitors on the bridge gatehouse.

Bridge Maintenance

Though the original wooden bridge was replaced with stone, it had to continually be repaired because of the damage over time from the wear and tear of so many people and carts crossing the bridge, the water and debris beating against the pillars, occasional flooding, tumultuous weather, and even war.

To help finance the repairs, funds were continually raised and collected through passage tolls, rent for the properties on the bridge, and of course taxes. The bridge became a vulnerable site for disasters, including several fires. One fire in about 1212 burned down many of the buildings on top of the bridge, resulting in a large number of deaths.

The Bridge Over Time

New bridge crossings on the Thames were added at Westminster in 1738 and Battersea in 1771. After six centuries, the Old London Bridge was torn down in the 18th century to make way for the construction of a new version. Construction started in the mid-1700s under the direction of John Rennie, and in 1831, though Rennie had passed away, the New London Bridge was completed by his sons, George and John Rennie, Jr. The New London Bridge lasted until the 1960’s, which prompted the construction of the current London Bridge. Parts of Rennie’s bridge were salvaged and now reside as a tourist attraction in the United States at Lake Havasu in Arizona.

Key Print Sources McEwan, John A. Charity and the City: London Bridge, c. 1176–1275. Medieval Londoners: Essays to Mark the Eightieth Birthday of Carol M. Barron, edited by Elizabeth A. New and Christian Steer. University of London, Institute of Historical Research, 2019, pp. 223-244. Norris, David A. London Bridge. History Magazine vol. 19, no. 6, Aug. 2018, pp. 23–26.
Key Online Sources Best, Michael. The City of London. Shakespeare’s Life and Times. Internet Shakespeare Editions. University of Victoria, Accessed 5 Nov. 2024. https://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/society/city%20life/citylondon.html. Introduction. London Bridge: Selected Accounts and Rentals, 1381–1538, edited by Vansessa Harding and Laura Wright. London Record Society, 1995, pp. vii-xxix. British History Online. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-record-soc/vol31/vii-xxix. Accessed 27 May 2020. Billingham, David P. London Bridge. Encyclopædia Britannica. 07 May 2013. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Old-London-Bridge.