Click on a number to read about the corresponding London bridge:
1. Battersea Bridge
Although during the 18th century Battersea and Chelsea were connected only by
a regular ferry service, the construction of a wooden bridge between 1771-1772 eventually allowed
for pedestrians and wagons to cross the Thames. However, because of the nature of Henry Holland's
original design (which featured wooden piers and 19 spans) it became a notorious black spot on the
river, with cargo boats regularly colliding with the bridge at night or during times of fog/poor
visibility.
Finally replaced between 1886-1890 with the Battersea Bridge that still stands today, Sir Joseph
Bazalgette's design substituted wood for cast-iron arches, with an ornamental fascia to further
enhance the design.
2. Albert Bridge
As one of the few suspension bridges in London, the Albert Bridge is also
among the most attractive, especially when lit at night. Spanning the river between Chelsea and
Battersea, the cantilevered structure was originally designed by Rowland Ordish and built between
1871 and 1873. And, although elements of the design were later tinkered with by Sir Joseph
Bazalgette, little remedial work was carried out on the bridge until 1973. At this point it was
strengthened to handle increased volumes of traffic, although the works, which involved adding a
none too subtle central support, spoilt the bridge's original wrought iron design.
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3. Chelsea Bridge
With the original Chelsea Bridge surviving until the early 1930s, Thomas
Page's mid-19th century design was replaced by an altogether more modern structure. With a small
span of only 350ft, the suspension bridge links Chelsea with Battersea between Ranelagh Gardens and
Battersea Park (with the Grosvenor railway bridge running parallel). Opened in 1934 by the Canadian
Prime Minister Mackenzie King, Chelsea Bridge is also illuminated at night, making for a
spectacular sight in this part of town.
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4. Vauxhall Bridge
Having replaced James Walker’s original cast-iron bridge, Sir Alexander
Binnie's late 19th-century design was completed in 1906. Comprising of five steel arches on masonry
piers, Vauxhall bridge features a number of ornamental sculptures by F W Pomeroy and Alfred Drury.
Representing industry and agriculture on one side, with Government, the arts and education on the
other, the bridge's reliefs are best viewed from Millbank. Overshadowed by the monolithic MI5
building (and swanky new apartment buildings along Wandsworth Road) the southern side of Vauxhall
bridge takes you towards Vauxhall Station (one of London's less pleasant areas). So be vigilant
here, especially at night.
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5. Lambeth Bridge
Boasting one of the best upstream views of any London bridge, the (relatively)
new steel-arch bridge links Lambeth Palace to Millbank and Westminster. Built to replace an earlier
design by P W Barlow (which suffered from severe corrosion) Lambeth Bridge features five spans,
some pleasing decorative iron-work and obelisks at either end topped by pineapples! Recently
repainted, it makes for a pleasant walk across the Thames, especially as Victoria Tower Gardens and
the Houses of Parliament are just a short walk away.
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6. Westminster Bridge
First opened in 1750, Westminster Bridge established one of the most important
links across the Thames, joining the ever expanding (and important) area around Westminster to what
is now Waterloo. Widely praised at the time, it stood for over 70 years before structural checks
revealed problems with the bridge's foundations. And, although remedial works were carried out,
Parliament, which had been alerted to the problem, subsequently decided to construct a new bridge.
With the task of designing it awarded to Thomas Page and Charles Barry, the current bridge opened
to much fanfare in 1862. It remains one of London's busiest foot and road bridges, whilst also
serving as a convenient link between the London Eye and Houses of Parliament.
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7. Waterloo Bridge
Opened by the Prince Regent on the second anniversary of the famous battle of
Waterloo on 18 June 1817, the original bridge was a highly decorative affair made up of nine arches
and featuring Greek style columns. Hewn from solid granite, it was considered to be London's
grandest Thames crossing (so beautiful in fact, that even Monet decided to paint it).
However, movement of the bridge's supporting piers eventually led to its
demise, with the structure being demolished in 1936 to make way for a newer (and less ornate)
replacement. Completed in 1945, the cantilevered five span bridge remains Greek in style, using
Portland stone to face the bridge's concrete structure underneath. Although by no means pretty, the
views afforded from the bridge are wonderful, with the Houses of Parliament and London Eye
downstream, whilst St. Paul's and The City can be seen to the east.
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8. Blackfriars Bridge
Text currently being revised.
9. Millennium Bridge
Dubbed the "wobbly bridge", London's newest foot crossing hit the headlines
last year after being forced to close just days after its public opening. Although the nausea
inducing 'ride' that many experienced (caused by sheer weight of numbers) never threatened to
undermine its structural integrity, the bridge's excessive wobbling forced designers back to their
drawing boards.
Spanning the Thames between the Tate Modern and St Paul's Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge is the
first to be built in the city for over 30 years. Undoubtedly a spectacular addition to London's
cityscape, Lord Foster (its architect) envisaged the bridge as being a "blade of light" when lit at
night. Certainly, it succeeds on this level, not only being unique in appearance but also being one
of the world's first horizontal suspension bridges.
Although a light-hearted campaign was launched by the London Evening Standard to retain the wobble
(they argued it would make a really fun tourist attraction) the bridge's engineers Ove Arup and
Partners have now successfully installed additional damping units, which are similar in design to
car shock absorbers. With the wobble now gone, this cutting-edge (and very beautiful) bridge
deserves to stake its claim as being among the finest in Europe.
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10. Southwark Bridge
Originally built following the formation of The Southwark Bridge Company in
1814, John Rennie's much vaunted cast iron crossing featured a huge central span of over 220ft.
With granite piers and a simple, yet elegant design it stood until 1912 when Mott & Hay
replaced it with a five span steel bridge. Linking Cannon Street and The City to Bankside, it is
flanked on either side by Blackfriars and London Bridge.
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11. London Bridge
Up until Westminster Bridge was opened in 1750, London Bridge was the city's
only crossing over the Thames. And, although its most recent incarnation leaves much to be desired,
the bridge has a rich and wonderfully varied history dating back to Roman times.
In fact, following the establishment of a permanent crossing in 100 AD,
successive bridges were burnt down (by the Danes in 1014 and then again in 1136) or blown away.
However, it was with the river's medieval structure that London Bridge came to prominence, boasting
timber houses along its length each several storeys high. The crowning glory was the flamboyant and
richly decorated Nonsuch House, complete with chapel and Dutch style gables. At the Southwark end,
however, the bridge's Gatehouse displayed the tar-preserved severed heads of traitors, a grisly
spectacle which counted William Wallace and Thomas More among the unfortunate victims.
Following the removal of houses from the bridge in the 18th century, a
competition was held to design a new London Bridge. Built by Sir John Rennie and opened in 1831 the
bridge, which stood for 130 years, was eventually sold to a businessman in the US during the 1960s.
Moved, and then reassembled piece by piece in Lake Havasu - Texas, legend has it that the buyer
mistakenly thought he'd acquired the rather more impressive Tower Bridge (see below).
Work on the current structure began in 1967, with the rather ugly and
non-descript bridge being completed in 1972. Unfortunately, for such a historic crossing point in
London, it remains a crying shame that a more fitting (and elegant) bridge was not commissioned.
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12. Tower Bridge
Made possible by the tolls and taxes levied by The Bridge House Estates
Committee on London Bridge, Tower Bridge was completed at a cost of more than £1 million in
1894. Based on a design by Sir Horace Jones, responsibility for its construction actually fell to
George Daniel Stevenson following Jones' untimely death in 1887.
Arguably the most ambitious civil engineering project ever undertaken, over
400 men were employed to build the structure, with over 70,000 tons of concrete used to build the
bridge's supporting piers. Made of Scottish steel, Tower Bridge was actually built in sections
floated downstream on barges from Woolwich. Clad in Cornish granite and Portland stone, the
bridge's most impressive feature are its two giant bascules which open to allow tall ships to moor
alongside HMS Belfast. For further information on visiting Tower Bridge click here.
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