The Washington times., 1901-10-27

piles" A curious picture this old stree
on London Bridge presented. Lined or
either side with shops and houses
which so overhung the bridge in som,
| places as to obscure the piers, peopleC
! with ali sorts and conditions of men, il
! possesses an indescribable charm fol-
the lover of history. Many of the houses
| were built with fiat roofs, which admit
| ted of flower gardens and arbors, sc
| that the expression ''as fine as London
| Bridge" became proverbiaL
Over the tenth arch was built Gothic
| chapel, dedicated to St. Thomas a Beck
| ct. which was used for service regularly
| down to the time of the reformation.
| The eleventh arch was formed by a
! drawbridge. on the northern end of
which was a tower. upon which it was
the custom to stick the heads Of per
sons executed fo~ treason. In 1871 this
tower was replaced by a very curious
editice known as the Nonesuch House.
1t was a reminder of Solomon's temple
in a way, as it was built in Holland and
brought to London in pieces, where it
was set up without iron or mortar. be-
ing held together by wooden pegs. 1t
was four stories high and extended
across the bridge by means of an arch
way. When the old tower was removed
to make room for the NonesuCh House
the heads of the departed traitors were
removed to the tower over the entrance
TO the br; Z, and this was henceforth
known as traitors gate.
Many of the shops were tenanted by
pin and needle makers, shoemakars.
linen drapers, grocers. hosiers and
other "haberdashers of small wares"
and here many of London's fashionable
women used to come for cheap pur-
chases in notions. Only a few of the
people who lived there are now known
One was the artist Holbein.
But recollections of London Bridge
are not confined to the common, every
day affairs of life, for it has been the
scene of fierce battles and of triumphal
entry. What recoi'ections of cruelty
on the one hand and of dauntless cour-
age on the other do the heads that
adorned Traitors gate" summonl One
of the first that was placed there was
that of the Scottish hero, William Wal
lace, and among later ones were those
of Sir Thomas Moore and Fisher. Bish-
op of Rochester. Here, too, Eleanor
the hated Queen of Henry III, when
trying to go by water to Windsor, was
attacked by an infuriated mob of Lon
doners. who gathered on London Bridge
and cast dirt and stones at her until |
she was obliged to return to the tower |
1t was by this bridge also that Wat
Tyler entered London and that Richard |
II was welcomed with great pomp to |
The city. also Henry V, from his victory |
1t Agincourt. Here Jack Cade wrought !
great havoc and some of the most stir |
ing events of Wyatt's rebellion occur |
ed. Most Of the houses were destroy |
I'd in the fire of 1856. but they were re-
,uiit in 1857. In 1892 the bridge was en-
irely demolished. fer the arches were
10 narrow and low as to impede navi-
-ation. and the whole structure was so
lilapidated as to be practically unsafe.
'he new bridge was built after a de-
Ign by John Rennie and was opened |
" William " and Queen Adelaide
AUGUST l. 1881. Tt was about 200 feet
arther UP the river than the old one.
fhich remained until the completion of
he new one.