The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-08-12

who about this time built the famous
bridges at Avignon, Pont st. Esprit,
Cahors, Saintes and La Rochelle. He
proposed to build stone bridge over
the river. In order to raise money for
this great enterprise, offerings were
asked and contributed by king, citizens,
and even the country at large. The
list of contributors was written out on
a tablet for posterity, and preserved in
the Bridge Chapel.
This bridge, which was to last for $50
years, took as long to build as King
Solomon's temple, namely, three-and-
thirty years. Before it was finished the
architect lay in his grave. When it
was completed the bridge was 926 feet
long and forty feet wide-Stow says
thirty feet; it stood sixty feet above
high water; it contained a drawbridge
and nineteen pointed arches, with
massive piers varying from twenty-five
to thirty-four feet in solidity, raised
upon strong elm piles covered with
thick planks. The bridge was curiously
irregular; there was no uniformity in
the breadth of the arches; they varied
from ten feet to thirty-two feet. Over
the tenth and longest pier was erected
a chapel dedicated to the youngest saint
in the calendar, st. Thomas of Canter-
bury. The erection of a chapel on a
bridge was by no means uncommon.
Everybody, for instance, who has been
in the south of France remembers the
chapel on the broken bridge at Avig-
non. Again chapel was built on the
bridge at Droitwich, in Cheshire, and
one on the bridge at Wakefield, in
Yorkshire. Like the chapel at Avig-
non, that of London bridge contained
an upper and lower chapel; the latter
was built in the pier with stairs, making
1t accessible from the river. The
bridge-gate at the southern end was
fortified by double tower, and there
was also tower at the northern end.
The wall or parapet of the bridge fol-
lowed the line of the piers, so as to
give at every pier additional room. The
same arrangement used to be seen on
the old bridge at Putney.
The citizens have always regarded
London bridge with peculiar pride and
affection. There is no other bridge like
it in the whole country, nor any which
could compare with it for strength or
for size. / think, indeed, that there was
not in the whole of Europe any bridge
that could compare with it; for it was
built not only over broad river, but a
tidal river, in which the flood rose and
ebbed with great vehemence twice a
a day. Later on they built houses on
either side, but at first the way was
clear. The bridge was endowed with
broad lands; certain monks, called
Brethren of st. Thomas on the Bridge,
were charged with the services in the
chapel, and with administering the rev.
enues for the maintenance of the fabric.
The children made songs about it..
One of their songs, to which they
danced, taking hands, has been pre-
served. 1t is modernized, and one
knows not how old it is. The author of
Chronicles of London Bridge gives it
at full length with music. Here are
two or three verses:
London Bridge is broken down,
Dance over, my Lady Lee;
London Bridge is broken down
With gay ladee
How shall we build it up again?
Dance over, my Lady Lee;
How shall we build it up again?
with a gay ladee.
Build it up with stone so strong,
Dance over, my Lady Lee;
Huzzal twill last for ages long,
With a gay ladee.
Waller BeSant, IN Hdrper'S Magazine.