History of Old London Bridge

The stone London Bridge was begun around the year 1176, and completed in the early years of the 13th century. The first 'London Bridge' was Roman, and probably built of timber. However, the earliest written reference to a London Bridge can be found in the section in the Saxon Chronicles that deals with the later tenth century.

The wooden Roman and Saxon London Bridges were vulnerable to fire and flood, so Peter de Colechurch determined to build a lasting bridge of stone. During the 30 years that it took to build, the bridge cost the lives of an estimated 150 workmen.

The historical drawings show, its silhouette changed constantly - with buildings frequently being demolished and replaced. Throughout its history, the bridge has been a busy thoroughfare, and was once lined with shops.

In 1666, the houses on London Bridge were saved from the Great Fire of London, thanks to an earlier fire in 1633 - which had destroyed the houses near to the north bank, so there was nothing for the fire to get hold of. In the mid 1700s, the houses on the bridge were removed completely, and a larger middle arch was created, by removing one of the piers (or starlings).

In the 1820s a new London Bridge was built, north of the old one, and this opened in 1831. In that same year, the destruction of the old bridge began in earnest, after it had been in place some 622 years. In the 1960s, the London Bridge of 1831 was transported, stone by stone, to Lake Havasu, Arizona.

The Drawbridge Gate

The Drawbridge Gate, on which the heads of traitors were once suspended on long wooden poles, was demolished in 1577. This was to make way for Nonesuch House, which was built in sections in Holland and shipped over. The heads of the traitors were transferred to the Great Stone Gate - where the grisly practice continued until around 1678.

The chapel

The chapel of St Thomas was first built in the 12th century, and then rebuilt in the closing years of the 14th century. In 1549, it was decreed that the chapel should be converted into a 'dwelling-house', and this was finally achieved by 1553.

The Great Stone Gate

The Great Stone Gate was built with the defense of the city in mind - hence its massive doors and a portcullis. It stood on a pier, two arches from the south bank. In January 1437, the structure collapsed, and it was immediately rebuilt. This new gate lasted nearly 300 years, before it was badly damaged by fire in 1725 and once again had to be rebuilt. It was finally demolished in 1760, when all the bridge's buildings were cleared away.

The houses

The houses are made of timber frames, with wattle and daub walls. Haute-pas galleries, from the third story, link the houses on either side of the bridge's road. In the time of this model, the shops would have had gaily painted signs, and counters that projected out into the street. The houses overhang the bridge, and are supported by timber beams.

The Piers

The piers (or starlings) of the bridge are constructed of a ring of elm beams, driven into the riverbed, which enclosed loose stone rubble. Oak beams were laid across them. Then there was an outer layer of wooden beams, which enclosed more rubble.

The width of the piers was extended over the years, meaning that the flow of the river under the bridge became very restricted. Many people lost their lives, trying to negotiate these bridge rapids.