Most of us would be aware of the nursery rhyme “London Bridge,” which repeats that the bridge is ‘falling. Contrary to this old rhyme, the bridge has never fallen to date. However, looking at the world-famous London Bridge history, it is evident that it has been purposely demolished and reconstructed multiple times.
London Bridge History
London Bridge history is a topic that is quite interesting and has a long chronological background that could be traced back to over two thousand years ago. The well-built castle has been a landmark in the city for many years, and indeed many visitors flock to the city just to take a look at the castle.
Here we’ll take a look at the history of London Bridge and find out more about some of the most intriguing facts regarding this famous structure in London. Therefore, if you are thinking of having your vacation in London or taking a walk over the London Bridge, then turn the page!
How many London bridges are there today in London?
- A. 1
- B. 3
- C. 4
- D. More than 4
When was London Bridge built?
The earlier London Bridge was constructed by the Romans around 50 and the first one was made of timber. It has gone through several reconstruction works throughout hundreds of years. The most famous medieval stone bridge was constructed in the year 1209 and was in existence for almost 654 years. The present-day London Bridge is a concrete and steel construction built in 1973 by architect, Lord Holford. It is now one of the many bridges that span the city and is a testimony to the changing face of London and its growing complexities and engineering achievements.
Old London Bridge
The very first stone-built London Bridge or Old London Bridge on the River Thames in 1176 was constructed by Peter of Colechurch. He was the priest and chaplain presiding over the St. Mary’s of Coleschurch and laid the foundation for the bridge. Before his work, it is believed that bridges had existed across the River Thames for nearly 2,000 years. All the bridges built before Peter of Colechurch were made of wood and he was the first to construct a bridge out of stone. He did this by replacing the bridge’s timber structure with stone and concrete. This Old London Bridge survived many natural and man-made calamities such as winter ice, river bed erosion, and fire from 1176 to 1820. Several repairs were done to keep the bridge functioning until it reached a stage where the London city municipality concluded that the bridge was too expensive to maintain. deemed it too much maintenance. This led to the decision to construct a new bridge upstream of the River Thames.
“New” London Bridge
The New London Bridge was designed by Scottish engineer John Rennie in 1820 and built by his two sons, George Rennie and John Rennie Jr. to completion in 1831. This was presided over by demolishing the Old London Bridge in 1832. The New London Bridge, however, had a short-lived stint. In 1962, it was discovered that the New London Bridge was sinking into the River Thames due to the increase in traffic. The City of London decided to put the 130-year-old bridge up for auction and construct a new one.
Robert P. McCulloch, founder of Lake Havasu City in Arizona, US, submitted the winning bid of $2,460,000 for the bridge in 1968. McCulloch spent another $7 million to move the New London Bridge to Lake Havasu City, which took three years. Between 1968 and 1971, the bridge’s facing stone was dismantled and shipped across the Atlantic Ocean to the US. It was then re-erected on a five-span core of reinforced concrete to serve as a tourist attraction in the resort town of Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The New London Bridge now crosses Lake Havasu in the US.
Modern London Bridge
These events finally bring us to the current bridge, the Modern London Bridge, built between 1968 and 1972. The current London Bridge was constructed in 1973; the original 19th-century stone bridge was taken apart and rebuilt in Lake Havasu, Arizona. The current bridge was designed by Lord Holford and engineers Mott, Hay, and Anderson The current bridge is a functional concrete and steel structure. It crosses the River Thames and links the City of London with Southwark. Although many people confuse it with the more famous Tower Bridge, London Bridge continues to serve as one of the city’s major arteries.
The history behind London Bridge is Falling Down Nursery rhyme
The rhyme “London Bridge is Falling Down” is one of the oldest nursery rhymes that might have originated during the Middle Ages. The history of the rhyme is associated with the multiple rebuilds of London Bridge since it was a rather fragile structure that required repair work often because of fires, floods, and general wear and tear.