Westminster Bridge | London Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia 1862 The first Westminster Bridge as painted by Canaletto, 1746. Westminster Bridge, around 1750. The proprietors of the bridge had to pay compensation to the operators of the earlier 'Horseferry', and to local watermen. Westminster Bridge and surrounding landmarks at night. The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons by J. M. W. Turner, 1835, with Westminster Bridge on the right. Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames between Westminster , Middlesex bank, and Lambeth , Surrey bank in what is now Greater London . History Edit For over 500 years, the nearest bridge to London Bridge was at Kingston. Proposals for a bridge at Westminster had been made as early as 1664. These were opposed by the Corporation of London and the watermen. Despite further opposition in 1722 and after a new timber bridge was built at Putney in 1729, the scheme received parliamentary approval in 1736.

Financed by private capital, lotteries and grants, Westminster Bridge, designed by the Swiss architect Charles Labelye, was built between 1739-1750. It was only the second bridge crossing to be built across the Thames below Kingston when opened. The City of London responded to Westminster Bridge by removing the buildings on London Bridge and widening it in 1760-63. The City also commenced work on the Blackfriars Bridge, which opened in 1769. Other bridges from that time include Kew Bridge (1759), Battersea Bridge (1773), and Richmond Bridge (1777). The bridge was required to assist in the development of both South London and to give access directly to the south-coast ports for the north-bank expansion of the 'West End', without traffic having to make its way through the already over-congested routes, of the Strand and New Oxford Street, into the City and across London Bridge. A group of by-pass roads were also developed to facilitate this, resulting in the complex junction at Elephant & Castle in Southwark, then part of Surrey.

By the mid 19th century it was subsiding badly and expensive to maintain. The current bridge was designed by Thomas Page and opened in 1862. With an overall length of 252 metres (826.8 ft) and a 26 metre width, it is a seven-arch wrought iron bridge which has Gothic detailing by Charles Barry (the architect of the Palace of Westminster). It is the only bridge over the Thames that spans seven arches and is the oldest bridge in the central area of the river Thames. When constructed it incorporated two 2 metre wide tramways, the tracks were removed in 1952. The bridge is painted predominantly green, the same colour as the leather seats in the House of Commons which is on the side of the Palace of Westminster nearest the bridge. This is in contrast to Lambeth Bridge which is red, the same colour as the seats in the House of Lords and is on the opposite side of the Houses of Parliament. In 2005 it underwent a complete refurbishment, which was finished in 2007. This sought to restore it to its former glory by replacing the iron fascias and repainting the whole bridge.

The work was completed by contractors Interserve and engineers Tony Gee and Partners. It links the Palace of Westminster on the west side of the river with County Hall and the London Eye on the east and was the finishing point during the early years of the London Marathon. The next bridge downstream is Hungerford footbridge and upstream is Lambeth Bridge. The bridge was given Grade II* listed structure in 1981. In popular culture Edit In the 2002 science fiction film 28 Days Later, the protagonist awakes from a coma to find London deserted, and walks over the Westminster Bridge whilst looking for people. Westminster Bridge is the start and finish point for the Bridges Handicap Race, a traditional London running race. William Wordsworth wrote the sonnet Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802. In the British Science Fiction series Doctor Who, Westminster Bridge has been used for various location shots. It was used originally in 1964 in the serial The Dalek Invasion of Earth which depicts the structure as desolate and deserted. Several Daleks are seen gliding over the bridge and the adjoining Albert Embankment.

The location was then re-used by the production team when the series was revived in 2005 where the ninth doctor and Rose Tyler run across the bridge in the episode Rose. It is also the name of a track in the Doctor Who Soundtrack album. The bridge plays a prominent role in the Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch "Nationwide" ("Hamlet", Episode 43). Reporter John Dull (Graham Chapman) is sent to the bridge to find out if it is possible to sit in a chair and rest your legs whenever you want. A policeman (Michael Palin) confiscates his chair, saying it is stolen from a woman (Terry Jones in drag) who is standing across the street. Instead of giving the chair back to the woman, the policeman knocks her down and takes an identical chair from her and sits beside the reporter. He then takes different items from people walking or sitting nearby, finally breaking into a store (the crash of glass breaking is heard followed by the sound of an alarm) to get beer.

In the 2000 film 102 Dalmatians, Cruella de Vil goes mad after she hears the sound of Big Ben, and while on Westminster Bridge she sees everything white with black spots (the pattern of Dalmatians). Bridges over The River Thames in London Home » City Guide » London » Bridges over The River Thames in London Bridges over The River Thames in London Rivers Thames is known for the breath-taking views it offers, and many people throng the area to bask in the faint sunlight that stretches across the tranquil water of the river at dawn and dusk. However, an interesting fact about this 346 km long river is that it has over 20 tunnels and a huge number of 214 bridges working as threads to keep the city connected and accessible. If you’re wondering which are those bridges, then this article is going to be a good source of information. We have listed down all the bridges that fall over the River Thames along with their photos and basic details. Others are Reading 1 Tower Bridge This boasts of two overwhelming towers that are tied together by 2 walkways that are horizontal.

The bridge was built over a period of 8 years and is in close proximity to the Tower of London and that’s where it takes its name from. 2 London Bridge Nestled between the Tower bridge and Cannon Street Railway bridge, the London Bridge is one of more popular bridges and is an icon of sorts, even featuring in a nursery rhyme. 3 Cannon Street Railway Bridge This bridge has had a happening history and was created back in 1866, with the latest renovation happening in the 1980s, giving it the utilitarian look that it has today. The bridge is also near where the Marchioness disaster took place (in which two boats collided in a tragic manner). 4 Southwark Bridge Brainchild of Ernest George and Basil Mott who designed it, Southwark Bridge's construction was done by Sir William Arrol & Co. and the bridge was finally opened in 1921 after completion. 5 Millennium Bridge Made specifically for pedestrians who wish to cross River Thames, the Millennium Brdige was finally opened in 2002 after a tumultuous phase of creation, when it was opened earlier but pedestrians complained that it wobbled.

6 Blackfriars Bridge There have been numerous renovations in this bridge's history, starting from 1769, when it was finally opened to the public after 9 years of construction. The bridge was initially 995 feet long, but when the whole structure was rebuilt, its length was decreased to 992 feet. 7 Lambeth Bridge Lambeth is the bridge we see in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, when the knight bus has to pass through Leyland Titans. And it is also seen in the crime drama presented by BBC, called Walking the Dead, besides being shown in Blood Diamond. 8 Westminster Bridge This bridge works as an accessibility point between the Westminster Palace and County Hall as well as the London Eye. The color of the bridge is green like the seats inside House of Commons. 9 Waterloo Bridge This bridge provides exceptional views of the city of London (including the London eye, City of London and South Bank) that no other spot on ground level offers. The current structure that we see was built after demolishing the previously built bridge at the same spot.

10 Vauxhall Bridge Having been built twice and construction of both bridges proved to be troublesome because they required numerous renovations and redesigns that were undertaken by different architects. It is worth mentioning that it took 8 years to complete the construction of the second bridge. 11 Chiswick Bridge This was one of the three bridges that were opened as part of a plan to reduce traffic congestion. Although it does not boast of the same grandeur that the other bridges do, it's simplistic design has its own charm. 12 Westminster Bridge - YouTube Westminster Bridge Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Feb 4, 2008 Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames between Westminster and Lambeth, in London, England. The first Westminster Bridge was a stone bridge that opened in 1750.

It was the second bridge to be built across the Thames in the then built-up area of London, breaking the monopoly of the ancient London Bridge, and it thus played a major role in the opening up of South London to development. By the mid 19th century it was subsiding badly and expensive to maintain. The current bridge opened in 1862. It is a seven-arch wrought iron bridge which has gothic detailing by Charles Barry (the architect of the Palace of Westminster). It is the only bridge over the Thames that spans seven arches and is the oldest bridge in the central area of the river Thames. The bridge is predominantly green, the same colour as the leather seats in the House of Commons which is on the side of the Palace of Westminster nearest the bridge. This is in contrast to Lambeth Bridge which is red, the same colour as the seats in the House of Lords and is on the opposite side of the Houses of Parliament. It links the Palace of Westminster on the west side of the river with County Hall and the London Eye on the east and was the finishing point during the early years of the London Marathon. The next bridge downstream is Hungerford footbridge and upstream is Lambeth Bridge.

In the 2002 science fiction film 28 Days Later, the protagonist awakes from a coma to find London deserted, and walks over the Westminster Bridge whilst looking for people. Westminster Bridge is the start and finish point for the Bridges Handicap Race, a traditional London running race. William Wordsworth wrote the sonnet Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802. In the British Science Fiction series Doctor Who, Westminster Bridge has been used for various location shots. It was used originally in 1964 in the serial The Dalek Invasion of Earth which depicts the structure as desolate and deserted. Several Daleks are seen gliding over the bridge and the adjoining Albert Embankment. The location was then re-used by the production team when the series was revived in 2005 where the ninth doctor and Rose Tyler run across the bridge in the episode Rose. In the 2000 film 102 Dalmatians, Cruella de Vil goes mad after she hears the sound of Big Ben, and while on Westminster Bridge she sees everything white with black spots (the pattern of Dalmatians).

Category Thames Bridges Thames Bridges Thames Bridges Albert Bridge Designed by Roland Mason Ordish and built in 1873 this suspension bridge was named after Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. It was originally a toll bridge and, although tolls were abolished in 1879, the toll booths still remain. Nowadays, the bridge is not strong enough to carry modern traffic and a weight limit of two tons was introduced in 1973. Of interest are the notices on the bridge which instruct marching troops to break step when crossing it! The Albert bridge is at its most beautiful at night when it is illuminated by thousands of electric light bulbs. Barnes Bridge In 1847 the Windsor, Staines and South-Western Railway was given permission to build a line from Barnes to Feltham. The bridge to carry this line across the Thames was designed by Joseph Locke and Thomas Brassey and opened in 1849. The line was popular for passengers and freight, avoiding as it did the busy and congested route through Richmond.

The bridge was also very popular as a vantage point from which to see the closing stages of the University Boat Race - special trains were laid on to allow spectators to enjoy the view from the comfort of a railway carriage. The bridge was strengthened to cope with increasing traffic in 1891-95, at which time the footbridge was added. This was made especially strong to support the crowds that traditionally gathered for the Boat Race. However, the footbridge is now closed during the race. Battersea / Wandsworth Railway Bridge This railway bridge was opened in 1863 as part of the West London Extension Railway. This connected lines running from Waterloo and Victoria with those from Euston and Paddington and it carried both standard and the broad gauge railway tracks needed for Great Western Railway stock. The bridge still carries the only north-south route through London but is now subject to a speed limit of 15 mph. Battersea Bridge In 1771 a timber bridge was built to replace a ferry that had existed at this location for many centuries. The bridge had 19 narrow spans and was a severe navigational hazard for river craft.

The bridge was the subject of a well-known painting by the artist Whistler but it became unsafe and was demolished in 1885. The present 5 span bridge was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette for the Metropolitan Board of Works and opened in 1890. Blackfriars Bridge This bridge was designed by Joseph Cubbit and opened by Queen Victoria in 1869. It replaced an earlier stone structure and features stone pillars shaped like pulpits between iron arches. These pillars were designed to resemble the interior of a church to commemorate the 13th century Dominican monastery that gave its name to Blackfriars. Cannon Street Railway Bridge This bridge was designed by Sir John Hawkshaw for the South Eastern Railway and opened for traffic in 1866. It originally had two footpaths. One was reserved for railway employees but the other was open to the general public on payment of a toll. The tolls were abolished in 1877. The bridge was widened and strengthened in 1898 at which time the footpaths were removed. Since then the bridge has been rebuilt twice, the latest version being constructed by British Railways in 1981.

Chelsea Bridge The first Chelsea bridge was designed by Thomas Page and opened in 1858. Like the present bridge, this was a suspension bridge and was described at the time as the most beautiful of the bridges that crossed the Thames. It gave access to Battersea Park, which had been laid out just before the bridge was built. Tolls were payable, and this led to complaints that "Government gave a park to the people but placed a toll-bar at the gate to keep them out". The tolls were abolished in 1879. The old bridge was demolished in 1935 and the new suspension bridge was provided with much stronger foundations to cope with increasing traffic levels. Chiswick Bridge This bridge formed part of a major road improvement scheme and was designed by Sir Herbert Baker. It is virtually on the finishing line of the University Boat Race and was one of three Thames bridges opened by the Prince of Wales on the same day in 1933. Grosvenor Railway Bridge This bridge is also known as the Victoria Bridge and the first railway bridge to cross the Thames into central London. It was designed by Sir John Fowler for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway and opened in 1860.

A second bridge to match the existing structure was designed by Sir Charles Fox for the London, Chatham and Dover Railway. This was built alongside the existing bridge in 1866. A third bridge was built in 1907 to increase the number of tracks into Victoria Station up to ten. All three bridges were replaced between 1963 and 1967 and there are now in effect ten separate bridges each carrying one railway line. Hammersmith Bridge The first bridge here, designed by William Clarke and opened in 1827, was the first suspension bridge to span the Thames. The current structure, also a suspension bridge, was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette and opened in 1887. Of all the London bridges, this one offers the least headroom over the River. It is a favourite vantage point from which to watch the University Boat Race. Hammersmith is one of the most attractive of London's bridges. This is especially true at night after a new lighting scheme was installed in 2000. The bridge is too narrow for modern traffic and is now subject to a weight limit of 7.5 tons. A priority traffic system for buses is also now in operation.

Hungerford Railway and Pedestrian Bridges These bridges take their name from Hungerford Market which was situated on the site now occupied by Charing Cross Station. The first bridge at this location was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and opened in 1845 to provide pedestrian access to the Market. The bridge was purchased in 1859 by the South Eastern Railway so it could extend the line from London Bridge to the proposed new Charing Cross Station. The chains and other suspension parts of Brunel's Thames bridge were used to finish his other bridge across the Avon Gorge in Bristol in memory of the famous engineer who had recently died. The new railway bridge, which utilised Brunel's original foundations and piers, was completed in 1864 and included two toll footpaths which the Railway Company was obliged to maintain. The tolls were abolished in 1878 and one of the footpaths was replaced by track in 1882. However, the bridge remained as the only London crossing to take both rail and pedestrian traffic. The single footpath was replaced in 2000 by two new suspension footbridges designed by Lifshutz Davidson.

These new landmarks provide good views of the Thames towards Westminster. Kew Bridge The first bridge at this location was built of wood in 1759 and replaced a horse powered ferry. The power of the currents in the Thames started to damage the wooden piers so the bridge was replaced by a stone structure designed by James Paine thirty years later in 1789. The new bridge was opened by King George III. In 1873 ownership of the bridge passed to the Metropolitan Board of Works and tolls were abolished. The bridge was later transferred to the Middlesex and Surrey County Councils. The present bridge, the third to occupy this site, was designed by Sir John Wolfe-Barry and CA Breton and opened by King Edward VII in 1903. The bridge was re-named the King Edward VII Bridge to commemorate this, but this name proved unpopular and it reverted to Kew Bridge a few years later. Kew Railway Bridge This bridge was built by the London and South Western Railway Company to extend the line from South Acton Junction to Richmond. It was designed by WR Galbraith and opened in 1869.

Lambeth Bridge The present bridge was designed by George Humphreys and opened by King George V and Queen Mary in 1932. This replaced an earlier iron suspension bridge designed by PW Barlow which was opened in 1862. Severe problems with rust to the iron structure resulted in the bridge becoming unsafe after only forty years or so. The pineapples on top of the obelisks at each end of the bridge commemorate John Tradescant, who was gardener to Charles I. He was the first man to successfully grow a pineapple in England. London Bridge Until 1750, when Westminster Bridge was built, this was London's only bridge across the Thames. The first bridge was built by the Romans in about AD 50 and was succeeded by a timber bridge built by the Saxons. The bridge was rebuilt in wood several times until the last timber bridge was built in 1163. Work started on a new stone bridge in 1176 and was completed in 1209. This was the famous old London Bridge, complete with shops, a chapel and houses.

By the middle of the 18th century a large number of the houses were occupied by pin and needle makers, whose pins can still be found on the foreshore. A new stone bridge, designed by John Rennie, was opened in 1831 by King William IV and Queen Adelaide. This bridge was in use for 140 years until it became too weak to cope with modern traffic and had to be replaced. The old bridge is now sited in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, having been removed brick by brick in 1973. The present bridge, built by Harold Knox King and opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973, is London's widest road bridge with six traffic lanes and two footpaths. Millennium Bridge Built by Southwark Council in association with the Millennium Bridge Trust and the Corporation of London, this was the first new footbridge to be constructed over the Thames for 100 years. The bridge was designed by Foster and Partners, Ove Arup and Partners and Sir Anthony Caro and is 370 metres long, four metres wide and 9.5 metres above the river.

It was inspected and dedicated by Queen Elizabeth II on May 9 2001 and opened on June 10. The bridge was closed soon after to allow engineers to investigate a disturbing swaying effect that occurred when a large number of people crossed at the same time. After installation of a new damping system the bridge was re-opened in 2002. Putney Bridge This bridge marks the start of the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. The first bridge was of timber construction and opened in 1729. Tolls were payable but initially people were reluctant to pay these - they did not pay when they went over London Bridge, why should they pay at Putney? Two toll collectors were stationed at each end of the bridge and issued with staves which were occasionally used to persuade the public to pay. In 1730 bells were hung on the tops of the toll houses so that collectors could go to the assistance of their colleagues if they were in trouble. The present stone bridge was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette for the Metropolitan Board of Works and was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1886.

Putney Railway Bridge Designed by WH Thomas and William Jacomb, this bridge opened in 1889 for the London and South West Railway. The bridge is now used by the London Underground District Line. Queen Elizabeth II Bridge The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge is situated some 20 miles east of London, between Dartford in Kent and Thurrock in Essex. It carries the M25 traffic across the river from Essex to Kent. The need for a new crossing at this point was identified in the 1980's as sections of the M25, the new orbital motorway around London, were opened. It was recognised that the existing tunnels, which now carry M25 traffic from Kent to Essex, would be seriously overloaded once the motorway was finished. Work on the bridge started in August 1988 and it was opened by HM Queen Elizabeth II in October 1991. At this time it was the largest cable-supported bridge in Europe and cost £86 million to build. Traffic volumes have grown by 75% since the bridge was opened and it is now used by approximately 50 million vehicles every year.

Richmond Bridge Built in 1777 by James Paine and Kenton Couse, this is the oldest Thames bridge still in use. Before the bridge was built a ferry operated by the Crown occupied this site and was used extensively by King Henry VIII and his daughters, who spent much of their time at Richmond Palace. The bridge was transferred to Middlesex and Surrey County Councils in 1927 and was widened between 1937-39. Great care was taken to retain the original appearance and each stone was removed, numbered and replaced after the foundations had been extended. Richmond Lock Permission was granted in 1890 to build a half-lock and weir downstream of Richmond Bridge. This followed many years of petitioning since the old London Bridge was demolished in 1862. The effect of the removal of the pallisades that protected London Bridge was to cause the tides to rise and fall more rapidly than before. This effect, combined with increased dredging activities in the lower reaches of the Thames, resulted in the river at Richmond and Twickenham becoming little more than a trickle between wide mud banks for long periods of time.

A barge lock was built on the Surrey side at Richmond and this was joined by a weir to three roller slipways for small boats on the Middlesex side. The weir was opened and closed twice a day to hold water back at low tide. A superstructure was needed to house the weir mechanisms and this was constructed to form two footbridges. These were opened by the Duke and Duchess of York in 1894. Richmond Railway Bridge A new six mile line to connect Richmond with Waterloo via Clapham Junction was built by the Richmond Company in 1846. In 1847 the Staines and South Western Railway Company extended the line to Windsor via Staines and Datchet and the line crosses the Thames very near to Richmond Station. The bridge to carry this line, originally called the Richmond, Windsor and Staines Bridge, was designed by Joseph Locke and opened in 1848. A similar cast iron beam bridge near Norbury collapsed in 1891 and this caused some concern over Richmond Railway Bridge. A new bridge was commissioned to replace Locke's structure and the present bridge, designed by JW Jacomb-Hood, was opened in 1908.

Southwark Bridge The first bridge on this site was designed by John Rennie and opened in 1819. It was a toll bridge and included one of the largest cast iron arches ever built. However, within 80 years or so it was clear that the bridge was too narrow to cope with an increased amount of traffic and the decision was taken to replace it. The new bridge was completed in 1921 and was designed to ensure that the piers lined up with those of both Blackfriars and London Bridges to assist navigation. The turrets on the piers were designed by Sir Ernest George RA. Tower Bridge As traffic levels increased in the 19th century it became clear that a new bridge was needed to the east of London Bridge. This bridge would have to allow the passage of tall ships into the Port of London so the City Engineer, Sir Horace Jones, suggested a double-bascule leaf bridge. Work started in 1886 and the bridge was completed in 1894. Sir Horace Jones died just after work began and the project was completed by Sir John Wolfe Barry with the assistance of Brunel (the younger).

The bridge opened 22 times per day on average during the early years but, as commercial shipping migrated downstream, this frequency reduced. Nowadays it opens on average once a day. On one occasion, in 1953, a bus was trapped on the roadway and had to leap several feet to the other side - there were no serious injuries. Twickenham Bridge A modern road bridge designed by Maxwell Ayrton and one of three new bridges opened by the Prince of Wales in July 1933. The bridge has reinforced concrete arches with permanent hinges to allow adjustment for changes in temperature. It was the first bridge incorporating this feature to be built in Britain. Vauxhall Bridge This bridge was designed by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice and opened in 1906. It replaced an earlier structure built in 1816 to a design by James Walker. Then called Regent's Bridge, this was the first iron bridge to be built on the Thames. The later name of Vauxhall was derived from Falkes' Hall, a nearby manor house built in the 13th century by Falkes de Breaute, a henchman of King John.

Frederick Pomeroy and Alfred Drury sculpted the bronze figures that adorn the piers on either side of the bridge. These represent the Arts and Sciences, namely Agriculture, Architecture, Engineering, Learning, Education, Astronomy and the Fine Arts. Wandsworth Bridge A wrought iron structure designed by Julian Tolmne was built here in 1873. It was of the lattice girder type and had a wooden roadway. After 60 years or so this bridge proved unable to cope with increasing levels of traffic so a new bridge was commissioned in 1935. This was designed by Sir Peirson Frank and opened in 1940. Waterloo Bridge The first bridge on this site was built by John Rennie. Originally known as the Strand Bridge, it was re-named Waterloo Bridge in 1816. It was opened in 1817 by the Prince Regent, accompanied by the Duke of Wellington, on the second anniversary of Wellington's famous victory at the Battle of Waterloo. By 1923 it was found that the three central piers were sinking and despite efforts to remedy this by reinforcing the foundations, the bridge was closed on safety grounds.

Work began on a replacement bridge to a design by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1937. This magnificent bridge with five spans each of 230 feet (70 metres) opened in 1945. It is constructed of reinforced concrete faced with Portland Stone and is the longest bridge in London. Westminster Bridge The original bridge completed in 1750 was only the second bridge to cross the Thames in London after London Bridge. The next nearest crossing point at that time was at Kingston. The new bridge met much opposition from the watermen, who made their living ferrying people across the river. The bridge featured semi-octagonal turrets at intervals to provide shelter for pedestrians but they soon became haunts for cut-throats and prostitutes. Twelve nightwatchmen were hired to guard travellers. The bridge became unsafe and work began in 1854 on a replacement designed by Thomas Page. The new bridge opened in 1862 and is the oldest bridge in use in Central London. London Bridge | London Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia London Bridge is a bridge between the City of London and Southwark in London , England, over the River Thames .

Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge , it forms the western end of the Pool of London . On the south side of the bridge are Southwark Cathedral and London Bridge Station ; on the north side are the Monument to the Great Fire of London and Monument tube station . It was the only bridge over the Thames downstream from Kingston until Westminster Bridge opened in 1750. The bridge carries part of the A3 road, which is maintained by the Greater London Authority; the bridge itself is owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates (see City Bridge Trust), an independent charity overseen by the City of London Corporation. Tower Bridge is often mistakenly referred to as London Bridge. The area between London Bridge and Tower Bridge on the south side of the Thames is managed by the London Bridge Business Improvement District (BID) Company. Contents Edit A bridge has existed at or near the present site over the period from the Roman occupation of the area, nearly 2,000 years ago. The first bridge across the Thames in the London area, probably a military pontoon bridge, was built of wood by the Romans on the present site around 50 AD.

Around 55 AD, a piled bridge was constructed, and the local Britons built a small trading settlement next to it—the town of Londinium. The settlement and the bridge were destroyed in a revolt led by Queen Boudicca in 60 AD. The victory was short-lived, and soon afterwards the Romans defeated the rebels and set about building a new walled town. Some of the 2nd century Roman wall has survived to this day. The new town and bridge were built around the position of the present bridge, providing access to the south-coast ports via Stane Street (the A3 route) and Watling Street (the A2). The bridge fell into disrepair after the Romans left. As Londinium was also abandoned, there was little need for a bridge at this point and in the Saxon period the river was a political boundary between the hostile kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex. With the impact of the Viking invasions, the reconquest of the Roman city by the kings of Wessex and its re-occupation by Alfred the Great, the political conditions arose for a Saxon bridge crossing to be placed here.

However, there is no archaeological evidence for a bridge before Aethelred's reign and his attempts to stem the Sweinian invasions of the 990s. In 1014, according to a much later skaldic tradition, the bridge was pulled down by the Norwegian prince Olaf, as he was aiding King Aethelred in what, if true, was 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 known 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, so the song's origin is presumably of a much later date. The earliest contemporary written reference to a Saxon bridge is in 1016, when it was by-passed by King Cnut's ships in his war to regain the throne from Edmund II "Ironside".

The rebuilt Norman London Bridge was destroyed in 1091 by a storm that spawned a T8/F4 tornado, which also struck St Mary-le-Bow, and is known as the London Tornado of 1091. The repair or replacement of this was carried out by William II "Rufus" through forced labour, along with the works at the new St Paul's Cathedral and the development of the Tower of London . It was destroyed yet again, this time by fire, in 1136. "Old" (Medieval) London Bridge Edit An engraving by Claes Van Visscher showing Old London Bridge in 1616, with Southwark Cathedral in the foreground. The spiked heads of executed criminals can be seen above the Southwark gatehouse. Following the 1136 destruction, some rebuilding was carried out during the reign of Stephen, presumably along the same lines as those instituted by William Rufus. On Henry II's accession, there was an attempt to regularise its maintenance by the institution of a national monastic guild to support this work—effectively by sale of indulgences. There is evidence that there were also unlicensed local guilds in London with the same purpose.

In 1163, Peter de Colechurch was appointed as the "Warden of the Brethren of the Bridge", and this seems to have combined all of the preceding ad hoc arrangements. In 1173, Peter soon proposed to replace the timber bridge with a stone one, almost certainly required by the popularity of the Thomas Becket cult and the associated pilgrimage from the bridge to Canterbury. Construction began under de Colechurch's direction in 1176. A chapel was built near the centre of the bridge (dedicated to the recently martyred and canonised 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. The new bridge took 33 years to complete and was not finished until 1209, during the reign of King John. John licensed the building of houses on the bridge, as a direct means of deriving revenue for its maintenance, and it was soon colonised by shops. The medieval bridge had 19 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 waterwheels (designed by Peter Morice) 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). 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". 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 could draw crowds, and when carts broke down or animals misbehaved, 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. Although the bridge itself was about 26 feet (8 m) wide, the buildings on the bridge took up about 7 feet (2 m) 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 12 feet (4 m) 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, which allowed people to get out of the traffic and enjoy a glimpse of the river and the shorelines of London. 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 cellars, which were not present. 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 recognise 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. 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. This pedestrian alcove is one of the surviving fragments of the old London Bridge that was demolished in 1831. The gates to London Bridge were closed at curfew, and the bridge was regarded as a safe place to live or shop. Located within the jurisdiction of the City of London parish of St Magnus and the Southwark parish of St Olave, the Bridge community was almost a town unto itself. In 1284, after many years of legal dispute, the City of London gained effective control and instituted the Bridge House Estates trust City Bridge Trust to maintain it from the older revenues and new endowments. The Bridge House stemmed from the site Peter de Colechurch's original "house", i.e. maintenance depot and residence for his monastic "brethren of the bridge", next to St Olave's church in Southwark, a site still marked by the street name "Bridge Yard".

Various arches of the bridge collapsed over the years, 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. Artist's imaginative conception of Nonsuch House on London Bridge, 1811. The Northern Gate, the New Stone Gate, was replaced by Nonsuch 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 in the same year, 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. The buildings on London Bridge created a major fire hazard and served to increase the load on its arches, both of which may have contributed to the 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 the death of 3,000 people. Another major fire broke out in 1633, destroying the northern third of the bridge, 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 has been suggested as one possible origin for the practice of traffic in Britain driving on the left.

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. "New" (19th century) London Bridge Edit New London Bridge in the early 1890s By the end of the 18th century, it was apparent that the old London Bridge—by then 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 feet (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 by Rennie's son (of the same name).

Work began in 1824 and the foundation stone was laid, in the southern cofferdam, on 15th June 1825. The old bridge continued in use as the new bridge was being built, and was demolished after the latter opened in 1831. The scheme necessitated the building of major new approach roads, which cost three times that of the bridge itself. The total construction cost of around £2.5 million was met by the Corporation of London and government. The contractors were Jolliffe and Banks of Merstham, Surrey. A fragment from the old bridge is set into the tower arch inside St Katherine's Church, Merstham. 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.

London Bridge was widened in 1902–04 from 52 to 65 feet (16 to 20 m), in an attempt to combat London's chronic traffic congestion. A dozen of the granite "pillars" quarried and dressed for this widening, but unused, still lie near Swelltor Quarry on the disused railway track a couple of miles south of Princetown on Dartmoor. In the end, the widening work proved too much for the bridge's foundations; it was subsequently discovered that the bridge was sinking an inch (3 cm) every eight years. By 1924, the east side of the bridge was some three to four inches (102 mm) lower than the west side; it soon became apparent that this bridge would have to be removed and replaced with a more modern one. Sale of Rennie's bridge to the United States Edit Rennie's Old London Bridge during reconstruction at Lake Havasu in March 1971 In 1967, the Common Council of the City of London placed the bridge on the market and began to look for potential buyers.

Council member Ivan Luckin had put forward the idea of selling the bridge, and recalled: "They all thought I was completely crazy when I suggested we should sell London Bridge when it needed replacing." On 18 April 1968, Rennie's bridge was sold to the American entrepreneur Robert P. McCulloch of McCulloch Oil for US$2,460,000. The claim that McCulloch believed mistakenly that he was buying the more impressive Tower Bridge was denied by Luckin in a newspaper interview. As the bridge was taken apart, each piece was numbered to aid re-assembly; those markings can still be seen today. The bridge was reconstructed at Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and re-dedicated on 10 October 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.

The rebuilt London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, 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. The cladding stones used are 150 to 200 millimetres (6 to 8 inches) thick. The remaining stone was left at Merrivale Quarry at Princetown in Devon. When Merrivale Quarry was abandoned and flooded in 2003, some of the remaining stone was sold in an online auction. Modern London Bridge Edit The current London Bridge was designed by Mott, Hay and Anderson. The senior engineer was Alan Simpson, the superstructure was designed by a team led by Michael Leeming, and foundations by a team led by Keith Ponting. The bridge was 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 of 928 feet (283 m) long. The bridge's lights were made from Napoleon's cannons.

The bridge was built to be functional and long-lived, and, as such, it is noticeably less decorated than other Thames bridges. The cost of £4 million was met entirely by the City Bridge Trust charity. 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. London Bridge with the Gherkin in the background 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. The current London Bridge is often shown in films, news and documentaries showing the throng of commuters journeying to work into The City from London Bridge Station (south to north).

A recent example of this is actor Hugh Grant crossing the bridge north to south during the morning rush hour, in the 2002 film About a Boy. Tourist attractions A new tourist attraction, the London Bridge Museum, is scheduled to open by 2012 in the vaults in the southern abutment of the bridge. Events Edit On 31 August 2008, Amanda Cotterell who was made Freeman of the City of London in 2007, exercised her right to lead her sheep across the bridge, which was allowed under an 11th Century law. Thames Bridges in London 450 feet long, 70 feet wide Three flat ferro-concrete arches are faced with Portland stone. Architect: Herbert Baker. Engineer: Alfred Dryland. Contractor: Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Co. Ltd Golden Jubilee Bridge (2002) 325 metres long, 4.7 metres wide Two footbridges on either side of Hungerford Railway Bridge are supported by white-painted steel rods which fan out from slanting steel pylons. Architect: Lifschutz Davidson. Engineer: WSP Group.

Contractor: Costain/Norwest Holst Grosvenor Railway Bridge (1860) 700 feet long Originally, the four wrought-iron spans carried four rail tracks across the river. In 1965, the bridge was reconstructed in steel and now provides a crossing for ten tracks. In fact, the steel structure consists of ten separate bridges joined together. Engineer: John Fowler Hammersmith Bridge (1887) Replaced Tierney Clark�s elegant structure of 1827, which was the first suspension bridge to cross the Thames. 688 feet long, 33 feet wide Two river-towers of wrought iron clad in highly ornamental cast iron support steel suspension chains from which the narrow carriageway is hung. The footways are cantilevered out from the main structure. Engineer: Joseph Bazalgette. Contractor: Messrs Dixon, Appleby and Thorne Hungerford Railway Bridge (1864) Replaced Brunel�s suspension footbridge, the chains of which were removed for use in Clifton Suspension Bridge.

1,200 feet long Nine wrought-iron girders are supported on cast-iron cylinders and on the two arched brick river-piers preserved from Brunel�s suspension bridge. The bridge was widened in 1886 to increase the number of railway tracks from four to eight. Engineer: John Hawkshaw. Contractor: South Eastern Railway Kew Bridge (1903) Replaced Robert Tunstall�s wooden bridge of 1759 and James Paine�s stone bridge of 1789. 360 feet long, 56 feet wide Three rough granite elliptical arches are enhanced by the ornamental shields of the counties of Middlesex and Surrey carved into the walls. Engineer: John Wolfe Barry. Contractor: Easton Gibbs Kew Railway Bridge (1869) 575 feet long Five wrought-iron lattice-girder spans supported on cast-iron columns with ornate capitals carry two railway tracks across the river. Engineer: W. Galbraith Replaced P.W. Barlow�s suspension bridge of 1862.

776 feet long, 60 feet wide The five arches of the bridge, supported by granite-faced riverpiers, are faced with flat steel plating to disguise the steel skeleton that lies behind. The red colour scheme is intended to reflect the red furnishings of the nearby House of Lords. Pineapple obelisks stand at the approaches. Architect: Reginald Blomfield. Engineer: George W. Humphreys. Contractor: Dorman, Long & Co. Ltd London Bridge (1973) with City skyline Replaced John Rennie�s London Bridge of 1831, which itself replaced the inhabited Old London Bridge of 1209. 860 feet long, 104 feet wide Three cantilevered high-strength concrete arches have spans of 260 feet, 340 feet and 260 feet. The only decorative features are the granite obelisks on the river-piers and the polishedgranite facing of the parapet walls. Architect: Lord Holford. Engineers: Mott, Hay and Anderson. London, Chatham and Dover Railway Bridge (1864) insignia.

933 feet long Five spans of wrought-iron lattice girders were supported by massive cast-iron columns. The superstructure was removed in 1985, leaving just the headless columns and its insignia. Engineer: Joseph Cubitt. Contractor: Kennards of Monmouthshire Millennium Bridge (2002) 325 metres long, 4 metres wide The flat steel suspension bridge carries pedestrians over the river between Tate Modern and St Paul�s Cathedral. Also known as the �Wobbly Bridge� because of the swaying that occurred at its official opening in 2000. The bridge was closed while the problem was solved using a system of dampers. Architect: Foster and Partners. Engineer: Ove Arup & Partners. Contractors: Monberg & Thorsen/Sir Robert McAlpine Putney Bridge (1886) Replaced the wooden Fulham Bridge of 1729. 700 feet long, 74 feet wide Five segmental granite arches span the river with All Saints Church, Fulham, at the northern end and St Mary�s Church, Putney, at the southern end. Engineer: Joseph Bazalgette.

Contractor: John Waddell Putney Railway Bridge (1889) 750 feet long Five turquoise wrought-iron lattice girders supported by pairs of cast-iron cylinders provide two railway tracks for the District Line. Engineer: William Jacomb. Contractor: Head Wrightson Richmond Bridge (1777) 280 feet long, 36 feet wide Five segmental arches are constructed in masonry faced with Portland stone. Widened on the upstream side in 1939. Architect: James Paine. Engineer: Kenton Couse. Contractor: Thomas Kerr Richmond Footbridge, Lock and Weir (1894) 300 feet long, 28 feet wide Twin high-level footbridges pass over a lock capable of handling six river barges and a weir controlled by lifting sluice gates. Originally hand cranked, the sluice gates are now raised by electric power. Engineer: F.G.M. Stoney.

Contractors: Ramsomes and Rapier Richmond Railway Bridge (1848) 300 feet long Three 100-foot steel girders are supported on stone-faced land arches and two stone-faced river-piers. The original castiron girders were replaced by steel in 1907. Engineer: Joseph Locke Replaced John Rennie�s three-span iron bridge of 1819. 800 feet long, 55 feet wide Five steel arches are supported by four stone river-piers, which are topped by pierced lunettes for decoration. Architect: Ernest George. Engineer: Mott, Hay and Anderson. Contractor: Sir William Arrol & Co. Tower Bridge (1894). Massive chains framing the Tower and Gherkin 380 feer long, 60 feet wide Central drawbridge with two bascules of 1,100 tons each, originally raised by steam-driven hydraulic power, today by electricity. Two 300-foot steel towers clad in granite and Portland stone support the bascules as well as a 200-foot-high walkway which is cantilevered out from the towers.

Suspension chains support the road spans from the riverbanks to the two towers. Architect: Horace Jones. Engineer: John Wolfe Barry. Contractors: Sir William Arrol & Co. and William Armstrong Twickenham Bridge (1933) 280 feet long, 70 feet wide Three reinforced-concrete arches are supported on concrete river-piers, with bronze plated permanent hinges at the springings and centres to allow adjustments due to changes in temperature. Architect: Maxwell Ayrton. Engineer: Alfred Dryland. Contractor: Aubrey Wilson Ltd Vauxhall Bridge (1906) Replaced James Walker�s bridge of 1816, which was the first iron bridge to be built over the Thames in London. 759 feet long, 80 feet wide The appearance of the structure of five steel arches is enlivened by the heroic-sized statues which stand in front of each of the river-piers. Architect: W.E. Riley. Engineers: Alexander Binnie and Maurice Fitzmaurice. Contractor: Petwick Bros Wandsworth Bridge (1940) Replaced J.H.

Tolm�s five wrought-iron arches of 1873. 619 feet long, 60 feet wide Three steel cantilever spans are supported by granite-faced river-piers in a typically plain LCC design. Architect: E.P. Wheeler. Engineer: T. Pierson Frank. Contractor: Messrs Holloway Bros (London) Ltd < Waterloo Bridge (1945) Replaced John Rennie�s 1817 bridge of nine semi-elliptical granite arches, which was once described by Canova as �the noblest bridge in the world�. 1,200 feet long, 80 feet wide Five spans of reinforced concrete clad in Portland stone cross the river between the modernist concrete structures of the South Bank Centre and the classical stone structure of Somerset House on the north bank. Externally, the spans appear as elegantly flat arches, but the underlying structure consists of steel box-girders. Architect: Giles Gilbert Scott. Engineer: Rendell, Palmer and Triton. Contractor: Sir William Arrol & Co.

Westminster Bridge (1862) Replaced Labelye�s beautiful but unsafe stone bridge of 1750. 748 feet long, 85 feet wide Seven elliptical cast- and wrought-iron arches supported by granite piers cross the river between the former County Hall and the Houses of Parliament. Gothic shields in the spandrels and ornamental shields emblazoned with the arms of England and Westminster provide decoration appropriate to the site. Architect: Charles Barry. Engineer: Thomas Page. Contractor: Thomas Page For information on Crossing the River: © Copyright Brian Cookson 2006 London bridges British life and culture - England, Scotland and Wales Bridges over the River Thames in London Twenty-four bridges span the Thames in London, from Kew Bridge to Tower Bridge. Some our railway bridges and there is a footbridge, howeer most are road bridges. The oldest is London Bridge, which was originally made from wood. In 1209 it was replaced by a stone bridge with shops and houses along its sides. This was followed by a granite bridge in 1831, and the present concrete bridge in 1973.

Lambeth Bridge is the central bridge of the three bridges in the photograph on the left. Nearest the camera is Westminster Bridge and in the far distance is Vauxhall Bridge. Seen from the London Eye observation wheel. Photo taken by Adrian Pingstone in November 2004 Join Winnie the Pooh on his voyage down the River Thames in London, from Kew Bridge to Tower Bridge Tower Bridge: 1894 Tower Bridge has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the finest, most recognisable bridges in the World. It is the London bridge you tend to see in movies and on advertising literature for London. Tower Bridge is the only Thames bridge which can be raised. Its middle section can be raised to permit large vessels to pass the Tower Bridge. Massive engines raise the bridge sections, which weigh about 1000 tons each, in just over a minute. It used to be raised about 50 times a day, but nowadays it is only raised 4 to 5 times a week Tower Bridge is 60 meters long with towers that rise to a height of 43 meters.

London Bridge: 1176 London Bridge is between the City of London and Southwark. It is between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge. London's original bridge made this one of the most famous bridge in the world. The first London Bridge is thought to have been built by the Romans sometime in the first century, with several rebuilds over the centuries. Eventually wooden bridges were replaced with a stone bridge, the first one being started in 1176 and finished years later Throughout its history, London bridge has been a busy thoroughfare, and was once lined with shops. The road over the bridge was only about 4m wide between the shops. It was so narrow it often jammed with people, horses and carts. In 1733 a 'keep left' rule was enforced to keep the traffic moving. This became the rule of the road in Britain. In 1757 the houses and shops on the bridge were demolished. A new bridge was built in 1831 to replace the old one. This in turn was demolished in 1967 and rebuilt in Lake Havasu City, USA, as a tourist attraction. The present london bridge opened in 1973.

The Millennium Bridge: 2000 Bridge with St Paul's Cathedral in the background The Millennium bridge is a pedestrian bridge erected to connect the Tate Modern Art Gallery to the City and St Paul's Cathedral. Almost immediately after opening the bridge had to be shut because of dangerous swaying. It has now been reopened. The Millennium bridge is about 320 metres, costs 16 million pounds to build and only takes pedestrians. Southwark Bridge Southwark Bridge is a road-bridge linking Southwark and the City across the River Thames . It was designed by Ernest George and Basil Mott and opened in 1921. Blackfriars Railway Bridge Blackfriars Railway Bridge is a railway bridge crossing the River Thames between Blackfriars Bridge and the Millennium Bridge Blackfriars Road Bridge Westminster Bridge Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames between Westminster and Lambeth. The current Westminster Bridge was opened in 1862 to replace an earlier bridge which dated from 1750. There had been a ford at low tide here since Roman times and many historians believe that the Romans used to wade cross the river near this point.

Question: Which was the second bridge to be built over the Thames in central London?
Answer: WESTMINSTER