City Walk: Bridges of London, London, England Author: clare 1) Lambeth Bridge Lambeth Bridge spans the River Thames between Lambeth Palace on the East side of the river and Thames House (headquarters of MI5), Millbank Tower and Tate Britain on the West side. This fine foot and road bridge was designed by Sir George Humphries, Sir Reginald Blomfield and G. Topham Forrest and built by Dorman Long. It was inaugurated by King George V in 1932. The bridge is 776 ft long and 60 ft wide; its steel latticework is painted red – the same colour of the benches in the nearby... view more Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Tagishsimon Sight description based on wikipedia 2) Westminster Bridge “Earth hath nothing to show more fair,” wrote William Wordsworth, while looking out over early morning London from Westminster Bridge in 1802. Of course, he was standing on the first bridge, constructed in 1750 by the Swiss architect Charles Labelye.

The bridge you can cross today was opened in 1862 and was designed by Thomas Page, who also worked on the designs for the Thames Embankment. The bridge spans the Thames from the County Hall and the London Eye on the East side of the river to... view more Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Iridescent Sight description based on wikipedia 3) Hungerford Bridge In 1845 the Hungerford Bridge was a suspension bridge that farmers from the south of England used for crossing the River Thames when they freighted their produce to the Hungerford Market, which was the most important market in the south of the capital at that time. In 1859 the bridge was bought by the South Eastern Railway Company, who wanted to build a railway bridge from the south of England to the capital. Businessmen working in London were leaving their city houses to live in the country... view more Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and ChrisO Sight description based on wikipedia 4) Waterloo Bridge Waterloo Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London, between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. The name of the bridge is in memory of the British victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Thanks to its location at a strategic bend in the river, the views of London from the bridge are widely held to be the finest from any spot at ground level. The first bridge on the site was designed in 1809-10 by John Rennie and opened in 1817 as a toll bridge. From... view more Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Adrian Pingstone Sight description based on wikipedia 5) Blackfriars Bridge To get to the Tate Modern from the Inns of Court, you will, of course, cross the Blackfriars Bridge, which received Grade II Listed status in 1972. The Bridge House Estates own the bridge and are responsible for its upkeep. This foot and road bridge is 923 ft long with five wrought iron arches to match its sister railway bridge, now demolished. It was built by the P.A. Thom & Company firm to designs by Thomas Cubitt and was opened by Queen Victoria in 1869. As you cross, you will...

view more Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Adrian Pingstone Sight description based on wikipedia 6) Millennium Bridge The Millennium Bridge has three claims to fame: it is the newest bridge to span the Thames; it is the only pedestrian-only bridge in London and it holds the record for being the bridge with the shortest opening-closing time in history, as it was closed only two days after being inaugurated. The bridge was designed, as its name suggests, to be opened in 2000, the start of the 21st century. In 1996 Southwark Council held a competition and invited architects from all over the world to design a... view more Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Arpingstone Sight description based on wikipedia 7) Southwark Bridge Southwark Bridge is an arch bridge for traffic linking Southwark and the City across the River Thames, in London. It was designed by Ernest George and Basil Mott. It was built by Sir William Arrol & Co. and opened in 1921.

A previous bridge on the site, designed by John Rennie, opened in 1819, and was originally known as Queen Street Bridge, as shown on the 1818 John Snow Map of London. The bridge was notable for having the longest cast iron span, 73 m, ever made. The bridge provides access... view more Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Steve F-E-Cameron Sight description based on wikipedia 8) Cannon Street Railway Bridge Cannon Street Railway Bridge spans the River Thames between Southwark Bridge upstream and London Bridge downstream. The bridge isn’t very attractive – it has a rather utilitarian look about it with its steel girders and cast-iron Dorric pillars. When it was designed in 1863 by John Hankshaw and John Wolfe-Barry for South Eastern Railway, it had decorations and ornaments, but these were removed during the bridge’s complete renovation in 1979. In 1989 the pleasure boat Marchioness sank... view more Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and David Jones Sight description based on wikipedia 9) London Bridge We all know the children’s nursery rhyme “London Bridge is Falling Down”.

Today’s London Bridge is not falling down, but its predecessors were all destroyed during wars or by fires. The first bridge to span the Thames at this spot was a Roman pontoon bridge built in 50 AD, replaced in 55 AD by a piled bridge, which was destroyed in 60 AD by Queen Boudicca. The bridge was rebuilt but fell into disrepair when the Romans left. It was rebuilt in 990 and again destroyed – this time by... view more Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and burge5000 Sight description based on wikipedia 10) Tower Bridge Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, which gives it its name. It has become an iconic symbol of London. The bridge consists of two towers which are tied together at the upper level by means of two horizontal walkways which are designed to withstand the horizontal forces exerted by the suspended sections of the bridge on the landward sides of the towers. The vertical component of the forces in the...

view more Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Yorick Petey Sight description based on wikipedia The Most Popular Cities Waterloo Bridge, London - Graces Guide Grace's Guide British Industrial History Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 121,926 pages of information and 183,284 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them. Waterloo Bridge, London 1817. The opening on the 18th June. 1817. The opening on the 18th June. 1840. 1925. The Old and temporary Bridges. 1934. ‎‎ 1940. The first bridge on the site was designed in 1809-10 by John Rennie (the elder) for the Strand Bridge Co and opened in 1817 as a toll bridge. The granite bridge had nine arches, each of 120 feet span, separated by double Grecian-Doric stone columns and was 2,456 feet long, including approaches. Before its opening it was known as 'Strand Bridge'.

A Supplementary Report on Waterloo Bridge made by the Improvements Committee of the London County Council April 2nd 1924 [1] "Waterloo Bridge was built in the early years of the last century, and was opened in 1817. The engineer responsible for its design and construction was John Rennie, and a drawing signed by him is still in the possession of the Council. Examination of old drawings shows that the foundation of each pier and of the abutments consists of timber piles about 20ft. long, driven in rows. Each row is capped by a whole timber sill or sill piece, across which further whole timber sills are laid, forming a gridwork of timber about 2ft. deep above the piles, the interstices being packed with stone. The gridwork is covered by a decking of timber about. 6in. thick, upon which the masonry of the piers rests and was built..." [more]. The bridge was nationalised in 1878 and given to the Metropolitan Board of Works , who removed the toll from it.

From 1884 serious problems were found in Rennie's bridge piers, after scour from the increased river flow after Old London Bridge was demolished damaged their foundations. By the 1920s the problems had increased, with settlement at pier five necessitating closure of the whole bridge while some heavy superstructure was removed and temporary reinforcements put in place. Giles Gilbert Scott, quoted in Hopkins (1970) London County Council decided to demolish the bridge and replace it with a new structure designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The engineers were Ernest Buckton and John Cueral of Rendel, Palmer and Tritton . The new crossing was partially opened in 1942 and completed in 1945. See Also Waterloo Bridge, London, Tourist information | tourUK.co.uk Tourist Information Post Code : WC2 - SE1 Waterloo Bridge is noted for its superb views over London. To the west is the Embankment, leading along the river towards the Houses of Parliament. To east is the dome of St Pauls, surrounded by the spires and high-rise buildings of the City. There are also good views towards the South Bank, where Waterloo Bridge separates the National Theatre and the Royal Festival Hall.

Designed by John Rennie, this was the first of three bridges he built on the Thames in London. Constructed between 1811 - 16, the new bridge was 27ft wide and 2,346 ft long. The bridge was supported by nine arches faced and decorated by a pair of Doric columns on each pier. Originally known as the Strand Bridge, in 1816 it was renamed Waterloo Bridge and officially opened by the Prince Regent on 18 June 1817, the second anniversary of the Duke of Wellington's famous victory. Waterloo Bridge was purchased by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1878 and freed of tolls, in an ceremony performed by the Prince and Princess of Wales. However, the new owners discovered that the foundations were in serious need of repair, the removal of the old London Bridge had increased the tidal scour of the Thames and the foundations of Waterloo Bridge had been undermined. Each pier was subsequently reinforced between 1882-84. By 1923 serious settlement was found in the three central piers and attempts were made to pump concrete under the sinking piers but the bridge was closed as unsafe.

Although conservationists wanted the bridge restored, the London County Council considered that the bridge should be replaced and commissioned the architect Sir Gilbert Scot to replace the disused bridge and temporary structure with a new bridge. Work began in 1937 but the official foundation stone, cut out of a stone from the old bridge, was not laid until 1939. With its completion delayed by World War II, and few men available, most of the work was carried out by female labour. Waterloo Bridge was the first to be made with reinforced concrete beams. During its construction the bridge was damaged by enemy action on several occasions - the only Thames crossing to suffer in this way. In 1942 the 'Ladies Bridge' was opened to pedestrians and two lanes of traffic. The completed bridge was finally opened in 1945. At 80 ft wide and 1,250 ft long and 80 ft wide, Waterloo Bridge is the longest bridge in London. Waterloo Bridge | London Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit The first bridge on the site was designed in 1809-10 by John Rennie for the Strand Bridge Company and opened in 1817 as a toll bridge.

The granite bridge had nine arches, each of 120 feet (36.6 m) span, separated by double Grecian-Doric stone columns and was 2,456 feet (748.6 m) long, including approaches. Before its opening it was known as 'Strand Bridge'. It was nationalised in 1878 and given to the Metropolitan Board of Works, who removed the toll from it. Serious problems were found in its construction and the new owners reinforced it. Paintings of the bridge were created by the French Impressionist Claude Monet and English Impressionist, John Constable. By the 1920s, the problems had increased. London County Council decided to demolish it and replace it with a new structure designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The new span was partially opened in 1942 and completed in 1945. The new bridge was the only Thames bridge to have been damaged by German bombers during World War II. The building contractor was Peter Lind & Company Limited. It is frequently asserted that the work force was largely female and it is sometimes referred to as "the ladies' bridge".

It is constructed in Portland stone from the South West of England; the stone cleans itself whenever it rains. Crowds attend the opening of Waterloo Bridge on 18th June 1817 View of the old Waterloo Bridge from Whitehall stairs, John Constable, 18 June 1817 Waterloo Bridge. Showing above the bridge (left to right) are St Paul's Cathedral , Tower 42 and 30 St Mary Axe (the "Gherkin" or the Swiss Re building) Granite stones from the original bridge were subsequently "presented to various parts of the British world to further historic links in the British Commonwealth of Nations". Two of these stones are in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, sited between the parallel spans of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, one of two major crossings of Lake Burley Griffin in the heart of the city. Stones from the bridge were used to build a monument in Wellington, New Zealand, to Paddy the Wanderer, a dog that roamed the wharves from 1928 to 1939 and was befriended by seamen, watersiders, Harbour Board workers and taxi drivers.

The monument includes a bronze likeness of Paddy and drinking bowls for dogs. The south end of the bridge is the area known as The South Bank and includes the Royal Festival Hall, Waterloo station, Queen Elizabeth Hall, the National Theatre , and the National Film Theatre (directly beneath the bridge). In the 1950s the National Film Theatre (a legacy from the Festival of Britain) was built directly underneath Waterloo Bridge. In the 1980s The award winning Museum of the Moving Image was also built directly underneath the bridge and became perhaps the only museum in the world to have stalagtites (from water leaking through the Bridge) growing within it. The north end passes above the Victoria Embankment where the road joins the Strand and Aldwych alongside Somerset House. The entire bridge was given Grade II* listed structure protection in 1981. Georgi Markov Edit Georgi Markov was a Bulgarian dissident assassinated on Waterloo Bridge by agents of the Bulgarian secret police assisted by the KGB. On 7 September 1978, Markov crossed Waterloo Bridge to wait at a bus stop on the other side, when he was jabbed in the leg by a man holding an umbrella.

The man apologized and walked away. Markov would later tell doctors that the man had spoken in a foreign accent. On the evening of 7 September, Markov developed a high fever. He died in agony three days later. After his death, doctors found a small platinum pellet embedded in his calf. Further examination found that two small holes had been drilled in the bullet containing traces of the poison ricin. Miscellaneous facts OLD WATERLOO BRIDGE | Stories Of London OLD WATERLOO BRIDGE DAVE HILL Postcard showing the Old Waterloo Bridge. The bridge was designed by John Rennie of the Strand Bridge Company and opened in 1817. It was originally a toll bridge. An unusual artistic postcard view of the Old Waterloo Bridge viewed from the south side of the river near to where the National Theatre now stands. The view is upriver to the west and is from the early 1900’s. This was during the heyday of the picture postcard, which was a few years after its introduction. The soaring spires of the National Liberal Club are seen on the right.

The Houses of Parliament are seen in the distance on the river’s North Bank, but because of the bends in the river, they appear to be on the South Bank. Initially, the South Bank was to London’s fleshpots once they were outlawed from the City and West End. Later, the South Bank became an industrial site, as indicated by the barges beneath the bridge. Although the river’s barges are now gone, both the National Liberal Club and the Houses of Parliament remain. The tower in front of the Houses of Parliament is one of many shot towers that were once on the South Bank. From the top of the tower liquid lead was dropped into water, forming perfectly spherical lead shot for guns. This shot tower survived the clearance of this area for the temporary installation of the building housing the Festival of Britain in 1951. During the Festival, a radio antenna was mounted atop to broadcast programmes. It was demolished once the Royal Festival Hall , the only permanent building from the Festival, was completed. If one looks closely beneath the clock face of Big Ben, one can see the silhouette of an animal. This was the reflection of the stone lion present above the Red Lion Brewery, which was present on the South Bank at the time.

The Lion was cast in nearby Lambeth from Coade stone . This stone was an artificial stone created by Mrs. Eleanor Coade in about 1770. The stone was used widely and is usage may be seen at St. George’s Chapel , Windsor, The Royal Pavilion , Brighton and the Royal Navel College , Greenwich. Coade Stone became obsolete once Portland cement was produced in 1842. The Red Lion Brewery was demolished in 1950 to make way for the Festival buildings The Lion was also removed in 1949 in preparation for the Festival of Britain. It was first moved to Waterloo Station , but was then stored. Apparently, there was some doubt about its future, but eventually it was cleaned of its red paint and installed the south side of Westminster Bridge close to County Hall . The Lion has in fact traveled only about half-a-mile from its original position. Old Waterloo Bridge was built by the engineer John Rennie and was completed in 1817. The bridge was of nine granite arches and was greatly admired. By 1884, problems with the bridge’s foundations had developed.

These problems stemmed from the increase in river flow caused by the removal of Old London Bridge in 1831. In 1924 the bridge was closed for several months until a bailey bridge was erected across it. Although London County Council agreed to the construction of a new bridge, its construction was held up as money was tight in the depressed 1930’s. Both Constable (1832) and Monet (1903) have immortalised Old Waterloo Bridge on canvas, as the following collage shows. There were many proposals to replace the old Waterloo bridge, but it was not until 1934 that demolition finally began. The new bridge was planned to be complete by 1940, but this was delayed by the war and the new bridge did not open for traffic until 1942 with the bailey bridge being removed in 1943 after nineteen years of service. According to HP Clunn in his book, The Face of London, published in 1951, parts of the bailey bridge were stored and after D Day transported to the continent where they were available for use when the last bridge across the Rhine (at Remagen) failed.

Old Waterloo Bridge with the Bailey Bridge in place The new Waterloo Bridge was completed in 1945 and incidently was the only London bridge to be damaged during the Second World War. It is believed that this bridge was built mainly by women and for this reason it is sometimes referred to as The Ladies’ Bridge. Waterloo Bridge is the title of a play by Robert E. Sherwood written in 1930 and has been filmed three times in 1931 , 1940 and 1956 . The most successful and perhaps the most romantic of which was the version produced in 1940 starring Vivian Leigh and Robert Taylor . It is also the setting of a poem by Wendy Cape , which was set to music by Jools Holland & Louise Marshall . Ray Davies , with The Kinks , wrote about it, along with Terry & Julie, in his song, Waterloo Sunset . The new Waterloo Bridge today The bridge was opened in 1942 and completed in 1945; it was the only London bridge demaged in World War II.

Left: view westward; Upper right: view north-west; Lower right: south ——oooOOOooo—— Hotels near Waterloo Bridge, London | LondonTown.com Hotels near Waterloo Bridge Waterloo Bridge , Waterloo, Covent Garden , London WC2R 2PP FIND YOUR PERFECT LONDON HOTEL SALE Search above or pick from our top trending places All central London hotels Houses of Parliament / Big Ben British Museum Visit our group bookings page or call 020 7437 4370 for assistance Room 1 Maximum 4 to a room. + Add another room Most popular hotels near Waterloo Bridge London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel from £188 28% off 336-337 The Strand, WC2R 1HA | 3 minutes walk from Waterloo Bridge A luxurious 5-star hotel situated right in the heart of the city, ME London offers guests a lavish accommodation experience.

Floor-to-ceiling windows provide the impeccable guestrooms More London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel from £81 36% off 372 Strand, WC2R 0JJ | 3 minutes walk from Waterloo Bridge This West End Art Deco hotel right on the Strand and next to Covent Garden is in a fantastic location for accessing central London and theatreland. More London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel from £136 37% off Aldwych, WC2B 4DD | 4 minutes walk from Waterloo Bridge Positioned between the City's Square Mile and the thriving West End, this grand, Edwardian Hilton hotel welcomes guests with a patisserie and champagne bar in the More Waterloo Bridge Waterloo Bridge between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge occupies a great position for some sight seeing with views over Westminster, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben one way; the London Eye, County Hall and the South Bank the other; and St Paul's dome, the Gherkin and the City yet another. The Southbank's BFI is directly under the bridge.

Taking cars and foot passengers into Waterloo Station, both the bridge and railway hub are named after the British victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Prior to the present structure there was a granite toll bridge, opened in 1817. The current Portland stone bridge, operational since 1945, was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott - the architect responsible for designing the iconic red telephone boxes and remodelling of Battersea Power Station. 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.

Bridges in London - Things To Do - visitlondon.com Bridges in London Email Facebook Twitter Google+ Visit London’s many bridges for sweeping views and fascinating history. Many of London’s iconic bridges give unique views and access to some of the city’s most popular sights, tours and events; or are well known landmarks in their own right. Wherever you find yourself along the Thames you’re guaranteed to be close to at least one of these famous bridges. Tower Bridge Built in 1894, Tower Bridge is the most iconic bridge in London. This impressive feat of engineering is 244 metres (800 feet) long, covered in 22,000 litres (5,812gal) of paint and crossed by 40,000 people each day. Find out more about how the famous bridge’s history at the Tower Bridge Exhibition , where you can also enjoy fantastic views from 45 metres (131 feet) above the Thames on the bridge’s walkways. Take a look behind-the-scenes of the famous bridge at The Tower Bridge Exhibition. You’ll discover areas such as the bridge’s machinery room, which houses the hydraulic system that allows the bridge to rise for river traffic.

This process hasn’t always gone smoothly, however. In 1952 the bridge started rising while one of London’s double-decker buses was still trying to cross. Its driver, Albert Gunton, avoided catastrophe by accelerating rapidly and jumping the gap. You can watch Tower Bridge live with our webcam . London Bridge While much more subdued in design compared to its flashier neighbour, London Bridge is arguably just as famous. The first incarnation was built by the Romans, followed later by medieval bridges with houses on top, and a stone bridge commissioned by Henry II which lasted until 1831. An American firm called McCulloch Oil Company bought the next London Bridge for £1m in 1971 as a tourist attraction for the new Lake Havasu City in Arizona. But the story that Robert P. McCulloch thought that he was paying for the more iconic Tower Bridge is now thought to be an urban legend. Find out more about the bridge’s history with the London Bridge experience, or explore its status as a film icon with the London Movie Tour.

Millennium Bridge The Millennium Bridge opened to the public on 10 June 2000, linking St Paul’s Cathedral on the north bank of the Thames with the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe . The footbridge’s famous tremor has now been fixed, but “the wobbly bridge” nickname endures. Southwark Bridge Southwark Bridge links the City of London with Southwark on the south bank of the Thames. It’s the closest bridge to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre , and sees the least traffic of the city’s bridges. Blackfriars Bridge Built in 1869, Blackfriars Bridge gained notoriety in 1982 when Vatican bank Chairman Robert Calvi was found hanging from it. Calvi was embroiled in a series of financial scandals and a member of the “Propaganda Due” (or P2) Masonic lodge that brought down the Italian government in 1981. Members of P2 referred to themselves as “Frati neri” or Black Friars.

Waterloo Bridge Opened in 1945, the current Waterloo Bridge earned the nickname the “Ladies Bridge” as it was built mainly by women during World War II (while many men were away fighting). The first bridge built here in 1817 was made up of nine granite arches and commemorated the victory of the British, the Dutch and the Prussians at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges Opened in 2002, the two footbridges either side of the Hungerford Bridge were named in celebration of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Now a rail bridge, the Hungerford Bridge was also initially designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel as a footbridge. Walk straight down to the river from Trafalgar Square and you can cross the Golden Jubilee Bridges to the Southbank Centre and the London Eye . Westminster Bridge Cross the Thames at Westminster Bridge if you want to get an iconic picture of Big Ben on the north bank, or the Coca-Cola London Eye to the south. It’s the oldest road bridge across the Thames in Central London, and was designed by the same architect as the Palace of Westminster , Charles Barry.

Lambeth Bridge Charles Dickens may have considered the 1862 Lambeth Bridge “on the whole, the ugliest ever built,” but it does provide great views of the Houses of Parliament , Big Ben and the London Eye . Vauxhall Bridge A Russian delegation which visited the new Vauxhall railway station in the 1840s was so impressed that the word “voksal” entered the Russian language as the word for railway station. Chelsea Bridge In 1851, during the construction of Chelsea Bridge , which was originally referred to as Victoria Bridge, workmen found Roman and Celtic weapons, as well as human skulls and it was thought that this might have been where Julius Caesar and his army crossed the Thames. Albert Bridge Albert Bridge is a road bridge crossing the Thames in West London, connecting Chelsea on the north bank to Battersea on the south. It is one of only two road bridges in London to never have been replaced, despite calls for its demolition during the 20th century when it became clear the bridge was struggling to support an increasing number of motor vehicles. With its unique design and unusual colour scheme, the bridge is now an English Heritage Grade II listed building.

Battersea Bridge Built in 1890, Battersea Bridge is the narrowest road bridge over the Thames. Before the current bridge was built, the river could be crossed at this point by the very last wooden bridge on the Thames. Wandsworth Bridge The current Wandsworth Bridge was opened in 1940, and painted in dull shades of blue to as camouflage against air raids. While the bridge is one of the busiest in London, carrying more than 50,000 vehicles a day, it has been described as “probably the least noteworthy” bridge in the city. Putney Bridge Putney Bridge crosses the Thames between Putney and Fulham, and has been the starting point for the annual Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race since it began in 1845. Hammersmith Bridge The first boat race between Putney and Mortlake took place in 1845, and Hammersmith Bridge became a popular vantage point. Mayhem ensued, with up to 12,000 people crowding on, causing concern about the strain this was causing to the bridge.

Since 1882, the bridge has been closed on race day, but normally takes you between Hammersmith on the north bank across the river to Barnes. Chiswick Bridge It was the first of three London bridges opened on the same day. On 3 July 1933, Chiswick Bridge opened at 4.30pm, Twickenham at 5pm and Hampton Court at 5.30pm. Before Chiswick Bridge was built, people would cross the river by ferry. Kew Bridge Kew Bridge takes you from the train station of the same name across the Thames to Kew Gardens . The Museum of London also holds all the objects presented to King Edward VII on the day the bridge first opened, as it was originally named King Edward VII Bridge. These include the silver mallet and trowel he used, as well as a bronze axe. Twickenham Bridge Twickenham Bridge was designed by Maxwell Ayrton, the architect of the original Wembley Stadium and a pioneer of the architectural use of concrete. It provides a crossing between Twickenham and St. Margarets, and Richmond.

Richmond Bridge Like its neighbour, Richmond Bridge also crosses the Thames between Twickenham and Richmond. Built between 1774 and 1777 as a replacement for a ferry crossing, it is now the oldest surviving Thames bridge in London. Kingston Bridge At the Kingston end of the bridge, a ducking stool into the Thames for “punishing nagging wives” was recorded as being in use until 1738. It’s a very short walk from the other side of Kingston Bridge to the huge park at Hampton Wick. Hampton Court Bridge History and pictures of London Bridges on the River Thames. London Bridges by Katie Calvert If one counts footbridges (and certainly, one should), more than 100 bridges span the River Thames from beginning to end. Tower Bridge, Millennium Bridge and London Bridge, are widely recognized around the world. London's bridges enable trains, cars, and pedestrians to cross quickly over the River Thames rush hour permitting. While some are celebrated in nursery rhymes or captured as backdrops in travelers' photographs, each London bridge has a unique history. Let's take a brief look at several of London's bridges.

London Bridge A London Bridge has existed in more or less the same spot for almost 2,000 years. And just as the nursery rhyme explains, it kept falling down. The Romans built the first bridge shortly after they set up camp in London in 46 AD. Constructed out of wood, early versions of London Bridge were susceptible to fire, storms, and occasional invading armies. The first stone bridge was completed after 33 years of construction in 1209. King John was on the throne, and he permitted houses and shops as well as St. Thomas à Becket Chapel to be built on the span. A drawbridge permitted maritime passage. To secure the bridge at night, a gate was installed at both ends. It was from the southern gatehouse that the severed heads of traitors were displayed for macabre enjoyment and royal warning. William Wallace and Sir Thomas More were among the traitors so honored. The stone bridge lasted over 600 years and was finally put out of commission in 1831.

Its replacement was not so durable (foundation problems caused it to sink over the years), and that London Bridge was sold to American Robert McCulloch, who had it taken down and then reconstructed in Lake Havasu , Arizona, in the United States where the bridge has been a successful tourist attraction since its opening in 1971. The current London Bridge was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973. It accommodates both vehicles and pedestrians. Tower Bridge This bridge is so popular that some people think that it is actually London Bridge. Perhaps the most-photographed of all of London's bridges, Tower Bridge is comparatively young—it went into service in June 1894. A busy port and docks east of London Bridge necessitated another span across the Thames, but it would take years of discussion, an open design competition, and eight years of construction to make Tower Bridge a reality. Tower Bridge is a bascule (the word means see-saw or rocker in French) bridge; the engineering design enables the bridge to be quickly raised to accommodate the passage of ships below.

The Tower Bridge Exhibition (admission is charged) lets visitors see the original engine rooms; the exhibition uses photos, drawings, movies, and animatronics figures to describe the project's history and engineering. Visitors can walk across the high walkways and enjoy the magnificent views—remember to take your camera. It is the bridges proximity to the Tower of London that gives it its name, though you wouldn't be faulted for thinking that the twin tower design was responsible for the moniker. Millennium Bridge London's pedestrian-only Millennium Bridge—linking St. Paul's Cathedral to Tate Modern, Bankside—opened to great fanfare in June 2000. The steel suspension bridge was closed just days later. The problem—it wobbled . The designers had not allowed for the effect of large numbers of people walking across the span at the same time. So all the officials had to do was fork out a few million more pounds and spend almost two years correcting the mistake, and violà, London has one of its newest and most contemporary bridges. Westminster Bridge Westminster Bridge connects Westminster and Lambeth.

Made of wrought iron, the current bridge was opened in 1862 (it replaced a notoriously wobbly and dangerous overpass that opened in 1750) and is London's oldest bridge . Open to both vehicles and pedestrians, the bridge matches some of the Gothic detailing of the nearby Houses of Parliament. Westminster Bridge is predominantly green to match the color used in the House of Commons. Hungerford Bridge The Hungerford Bridge is actually one railway bridge sandwiched between two pedestrian walkways. The first bridge on the site was a suspension foot bridge designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel (as chief engineer of the Great Western Railway, he accomplished amazing engineering projects). Named for the market that then existed on the north bank, that first bridge opened in 1845. Less than 20 years later, the footbridge was replaced with a cantilevered railway bridge, although railroad operators were still required to accommodate pedestrian crossings. The new pedestrian spans are often still called the "Hungerford Footbridges;" the attractive new walkways were completed in 2002. Their formal name, the Golden Jubilee Bridges, honors that milestone of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.

Waterloo Bridge The first bridge on this site opened in 1817. The name comes from the Battle of Waterloo , an important British victory during the Napoleonic Wars. The current bridge was completed in 1945 and is made of Portland stone. Both a vehicle and foot bridge, Waterloo Bridge leads to the many art and entertainment establishments along the South Bank . Blackfriars Bridge The first bridge at this spot along the river opened in 1769, It was meant to be named after William Pitt, but instead gained its moniker from a 13th Century Dominican monastery(long-since dissolved) that had provided a name for a section of London near Ludgate Hill. The current Blackfriars Bridge was opened by Queen Victoria in 1869; it is both a vehicle and pedestrian bridge. Blackfrairs Rail Bridge The first bridge, built in 1864, was not strong enough to support newer trains, and so a new bridge was constructed and opened in 1886. What is now known as Blackfriars Rail Bridge was originally called St. Paul's Railway Bridge, but in 1937 when St.

Paul's station changed its name to Blackfriars, the bridge quickly followed suit. Southwark Bridge First opened in 1819, the original Southwark Bridge was demolished in 1913. World War I delayed the completion of its replacement until 1921. If you look under the bridge on the south side of the river, stone steps are visible. This was a “taxi stand” for the watermen who would transport people in their boats to the other side of the River Thames. Cannon Street Rail Bridge Another London bridge that does not go by its proper name (it's the Alexandra Bridge, named after the wife of King Edward VII) is Cannon Street Rail Bridge, which was opened in 1866. Subsequent renovations and widening of the span over the next hundred plus years have striped away most of its earlier ornamentation. The Cannon Street Station —at the end of the bridge—is the terminal station of the National Rail.

Slideshow —all photos on this page Waterloo Bridge London | Nearby hotels, shops and restaurants | LondonTown.com Theatre | Until 23rd September 2017 Fortune Theatre 2 minutes walk from Waterloo Bridge One of the less well-known West-End fixtures, this adaptation of Susan Hill's gothic novel has been packing out houses since ... More Theatre | Until 14th January 2017 Adelphi Theatre 3 minutes walk from Waterloo Bridge Inspired by a true story and based on the 2005 British film of the same name, Cyndi Lauper and Harvey ... More Theatre | Until 4th February 2017 Vaudeville Theatre 3 minutes walk from Waterloo Bridge An all-star cast which includes Katherine Parkinson (famous for The IT Crowd and Humans), Ralf Little (The Royle Family, Two ... More Theatre | Until 15th October 2017 Cambridge Theatre 3 minutes walk from Waterloo Bridge The Royal Shakespeare Company's multiple award-winning musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's celebrated children's book Matilda is a big hit at ... More

Question: Which bridge in central London was originally known as the Strand Bridge when opened in 1817 ?
Answer: WATERLOO