London - Tower Bridge & London Bridge

It is an iconic landmark and architecture, an engineering marvel, a symbol of London and also a muse, a source of inspiration to many artists. The biggest issue when it was to be built was how to build another bridge (London Bridge was already there) without disrupting the busy Thames. In 1884 it was started and took 8 years and 432 workers to build.

Two piers were built as foundations and 11,000 tons of steel, covered in granite and stone. It was the largest most complex bascule (see-saw) bridge operated by hydraulics with steam powered engines but only took 60 seconds to raise to 86 degrees (in 1976 the steam was replaced with oil/electricity). About 800 vessels still pass through each year. The types of boats, barges and ships that visit continue to change, from cargo vessels and paddle steamers to pleasure cruises and royal yachts.

Some key openings: 1954 Queen Elizabeth II finished a world tour with a ride through the bridge on the Royal Yacht which draped a Welcome Home sign. In 1977 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee it was painted red/white/blue. In 2012 (with an audience of approx. 900 million) for the London Summer Olympics, David Beckham drove the speedboat Max Power carrying the Torchbearer Jade Bailey and the flame on the final step on the Thames through the bascules and fireworks were set off on the walkways. The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on 5/6/23 at the Abbey and a procession to Buckingham Palace and on 5/6 & 7 the Tower Bridge was lit up in red, white and blue
- see London Bridge Song video

London Bridge, one of several bridges over the River Thames (there have been many!):
London Bridge (Roman times), London Bridge (Early medieval times), London Bridge (1209) (or "Old London Bridge"), London Bridge (1831) (or "New London Bridge"), the replacement for the 1209 London Bridge, London Bridge (1973), and the present-day London Bridge and replacement for the 1831 bridge, and London Bridge (Dublin), a bridge over the River Dodder, Ireland AND of course, London Bridge (Lake Havasu City), Arizona, U.S., re-assembled from the 1831 British bridgeLäs mer