London Bridge has spanned the River Thames for over 2,000 years, with the current steel and concrete bridge connecting the City of London and Southwark. The bridge has a fascinating history, including destruction by fires and floods, the display of notorious Englishmen’s heads, and the introduction of tolls. The Rennie Bridge was sold to an American oil company and brought to Lake Havasu City in Arizona. The old bridge was dismantled and sent to Lake Havasu City, where it was reassembled and dedicated in October 1971.
One variation of London Bridge or another has spanned the River Thames in Britain’s capital for over 2,000 years. Today’s steel and concrete bridge connects the City of London and Southwark in central London. It was dedicated by Queen Elizabeth II in 1996. The history of London Bridge is a fascinating one, with many twists and turns and plenty of intrigue. The Rennie Bridge, built in the 1800s, was sold to an American oil company and brought to Lake Havasu City in Arizona.
The modern bridge is located between the Cannon Street railway bridge and Tower Bridge. Southwark Cathedral and London Bridge station are at the south end of the bridge. The Monument to the Great Fire of London and Monument tube station are at the north end. The bridge serves as the western edge of the Pool of London.
In AD 52 the Romans built the first wooden bridge in Londinium, today’s London. Queen Boudicea and her army razed the entire city in AD 60. The Romans rebuilt the wooden bridge in AD 80. Over the next ten years, a permanent bridge was built. In 407 AD the Romans withdrew from London and pulled down the bridge. It was not until 842-872 AD that another bridge was built by the Anglo-Saxons.
Over the years, the bridge has been destroyed by fires and floods. Peter de Colechurch began building the foundation stone of London Bridge around 1176 and completed it in 1212. The bridge was 40 feet (12.1 m) wide; in 1201, after King John declared that houses and shops should be built on the bridge, it had only one lane in each direction which could be used for foot traffic, animals and wagons. In 1282 the arches of London Bridge collapsed.
Beginning in 1305 and continuing until 1684, the heads of notorious Englishmen were displayed on the bridge. These included William Wallace, Jack Cade and William Stanley. Perhaps the most famous heads displayed on London Bridge were those of Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators, whose heads were summarily chopped off after they attempted to blow up the Parliament building in 1605.
The 1700s saw the introduction of tolls, fires and the installation of water wheels. In 1779, the last lease having expired, the tenant moved out and the house was demolished. This made the bridge wider than it had been in centuries. Oddly enough, the first time the bridge was actually accurately measured and drawn was in 1799 by George Dance the Younger.
The foundation stone of John Rennie’s London Bridge was laid on 15 June 1825. During construction, the bones of Peter de Colechurch were found under the bridge’s old chapel. This may have started rumors that each bridge had the bones of a human sacrifice built into it; no evidence of this has been found in any of the reconstructions. In 1839, London Bridge Station opened and people started using the bridge to enter the city.
In 1967, the London Bridge Act was passed and construction of a new bridge began. The old bridge was dismantled and sent to Lake Havasu City. There it was reassembled, dedicated in October 1971, and still stands today.
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