London J: Thames Trivia
Nov 30th, 2006, 07:09 AM
#41
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THAMES BRIDGES
Though the most famous of the historic Thames bridges, London Bridge, at least famous in name, sits in the desert in California i believe or Arizona, a part of The Thames mystique to me are the remaining spans over the river and their histories and all the history they have witnessed. (Ironically the 'new' replacement London Bridge is no doubt the least impressive of them all!)
(Again paraphrasing the leaflet Walk This Way, A Young Person's Guide "Above the Thames".)
Starting from upriver and working down with the flow...
WESTMINSTER BRIDGE
Opened in 1750, this was the first span between Westminster and the South Bank. The 'new' replacement bridge opened in 1862 was designed to replicate the architecture of the Houses of Parliament...and the bridge is painted green, the same color as the benches in the House of Commons.
Big Ben stands near the Westminster end of the bridge - at least what most tourists call Big Ben - the hulking clock tower of Parliament even though Big Ben properly only refers to the 13.8 ton bell in the tower that booms out periodically to announce the time - the bell it says was probably named after the 'bulky Commissioner of Works, Sir Benjamin Hall.'
Though the most famous of the historic Thames bridges, London Bridge, at least famous in name, sits in the desert in California i believe or Arizona, a part of The Thames mystique to me are the remaining spans over the river and their histories and all the history they have witnessed. (Ironically the 'new' replacement London Bridge is no doubt the least impressive of them all!)
(Again paraphrasing the leaflet Walk This Way, A Young Person's Guide "Above the Thames".)
Starting from upriver and working down with the flow...
WESTMINSTER BRIDGE
Opened in 1750, this was the first span between Westminster and the South Bank. The 'new' replacement bridge opened in 1862 was designed to replicate the architecture of the Houses of Parliament...and the bridge is painted green, the same color as the benches in the House of Commons.
Big Ben stands near the Westminster end of the bridge - at least what most tourists call Big Ben - the hulking clock tower of Parliament even though Big Ben properly only refers to the 13.8 ton bell in the tower that booms out periodically to announce the time - the bell it says was probably named after the 'bulky Commissioner of Works, Sir Benjamin Hall.'
Nov 30th, 2006, 07:19 AM
#42
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Though the most famous of the historic Thames bridges, London Bridge, at least famous in name, sits in the desert in California i believe or Arizona,>>>>
Sort of. There have been many london bridges, going back to rooman times. The one in America is a modern one.
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/havasu.htm
The London Bridge of "london bridge is falling down" fame is probably the most famous.
Incidentally if you put the phrase "london bridge" into google images you get millions of pictures of Tower Bridge. That's a common mistake.
Sort of. There have been many london bridges, going back to rooman times. The one in America is a modern one.
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/havasu.htm
The London Bridge of "london bridge is falling down" fame is probably the most famous.
Incidentally if you put the phrase "london bridge" into google images you get millions of pictures of Tower Bridge. That's a common mistake.
Nov 30th, 2006, 09:00 AM
#43
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PalenqueBob - In Stephen Smith's book "Underground London" (which I have just finished) he writes thus:
"The Thames is still so dominant in the image of London, the river of life in the title sequence of the nation's favourite soap opera about cockney types, that we tend to forget that it is really a city of many rivers. Virile Father Thames had progeny:
Stamford Brook, the Wandle, Counter's Creek, the Falcon, the Westbourne, the Tyburn, the Effra, the Fleet, the Walbrook, Neckinger and the Earl's Sluice, the Peck and the Ravensbourne.
These tributaries were well known to Londoners until just a few generations ago".
It's a great read and delves into much beneath the surface of London that has never crossed a visitors mind.
From lost rivers and what has happened to them, to the sewers and disused tube stations, Churchill's Wartime Bunker and the Roman artefacts which are being thrown onto the muddy shore of the Thames to this very day when the tide goes out.
"The Thames is still so dominant in the image of London, the river of life in the title sequence of the nation's favourite soap opera about cockney types, that we tend to forget that it is really a city of many rivers. Virile Father Thames had progeny:
Stamford Brook, the Wandle, Counter's Creek, the Falcon, the Westbourne, the Tyburn, the Effra, the Fleet, the Walbrook, Neckinger and the Earl's Sluice, the Peck and the Ravensbourne.
These tributaries were well known to Londoners until just a few generations ago".
It's a great read and delves into much beneath the surface of London that has never crossed a visitors mind.
From lost rivers and what has happened to them, to the sewers and disused tube stations, Churchill's Wartime Bunker and the Roman artefacts which are being thrown onto the muddy shore of the Thames to this very day when the tide goes out.
Nov 30th, 2006, 09:56 AM
#44
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He may be an industrious historian, but his geography's a bit weak. All those other rivers aren't "progeny": as tributaries they're - well, if not parents, then generous friends and godparents.
Dec 1st, 2006, 06:40 AM
#45
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tod- thanx a whole lot for the book reference - i'll try to get one.
MORE ON THAMES BRIDGES
GOLDEN JUBILEE BRIDGES
Moving downstream from Westminster Bridge, passing the BRITISH AIRWAYS LONDON EYE, a huge observation wheel that takes you up to 135 metres high for stupendous views for up to 40 kilometres over greater London.
All pieces for the Eye were floated up the Thames and then assembled by a massive floating crane - the first attempt to upright the Eye flopped as the Big Wheel could not be raised until more ammunition was brought in.
A few years ago the new GOLDEN JUBILEE BRIDGES were constructed to facilitate foot traffic between the ever-increasingly popular South Bank and the Charing Cross/Trafalgar Square area.
200 years ago there was a food market on the Thames north bank here and the market was named after the Hungerford clan, whose mansion once stood there. The 1st Hungerford Bridge was simply a foot crossing but when the railways came into London and Charing X station was opened the bridge became a rail span as it still is and must be one of the busiest rail bridges in the world as trains trundle over it every few minutes. there was also a narrow foot bridge next to the busy rail lines, but with the Golden Jubilee Bridges, new pedestrian spans were added to each side on the old rail bridge. From the middle of the bridges you get a spiffy view over the Thames and London skyline.
MORE ON THAMES BRIDGES
GOLDEN JUBILEE BRIDGES
Moving downstream from Westminster Bridge, passing the BRITISH AIRWAYS LONDON EYE, a huge observation wheel that takes you up to 135 metres high for stupendous views for up to 40 kilometres over greater London.
All pieces for the Eye were floated up the Thames and then assembled by a massive floating crane - the first attempt to upright the Eye flopped as the Big Wheel could not be raised until more ammunition was brought in.
A few years ago the new GOLDEN JUBILEE BRIDGES were constructed to facilitate foot traffic between the ever-increasingly popular South Bank and the Charing Cross/Trafalgar Square area.
200 years ago there was a food market on the Thames north bank here and the market was named after the Hungerford clan, whose mansion once stood there. The 1st Hungerford Bridge was simply a foot crossing but when the railways came into London and Charing X station was opened the bridge became a rail span as it still is and must be one of the busiest rail bridges in the world as trains trundle over it every few minutes. there was also a narrow foot bridge next to the busy rail lines, but with the Golden Jubilee Bridges, new pedestrian spans were added to each side on the old rail bridge. From the middle of the bridges you get a spiffy view over the Thames and London skyline.
Dec 1st, 2006, 06:52 AM
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If you like the underground london book you'll probably like this site:
http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites.shtml
http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites.shtml
Dec 5th, 2006, 07:30 AM
#48
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BACK TO THAMES BRIDGES
WATERLOO BRIDGE
This span dates from 1811 as the Strand Bridge and it gained its current name in 1817 to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo.
BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE
This bridge dates from the mid 1800s and replaced a Blackfriars Bridge first built in 1769, and named after the Black Friar monks (in turn named after the black robes they wore) who lived on the north side of the bridge. Drawings of the earlier bridge can be seen on the walls of the bridge's south underpass on the Thames footpath.
WATERLOO BRIDGE
This span dates from 1811 as the Strand Bridge and it gained its current name in 1817 to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo.
BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE
This bridge dates from the mid 1800s and replaced a Blackfriars Bridge first built in 1769, and named after the Black Friar monks (in turn named after the black robes they wore) who lived on the north side of the bridge. Drawings of the earlier bridge can be seen on the walls of the bridge's south underpass on the Thames footpath.
Dec 5th, 2006, 07:37 AM
#49
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The present Waterloo Bridge dates from the 1940s. There was the mother of all heritage/preservation rows about the previous 19th century bridge; but nowadays I suspect most people would feel the same about the present one. Plus ça change.....
Dec 6th, 2006, 07:07 AM
#50
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Patrick - thanks for Waterloo clarification - having crossed that bridge many times it sure looks like some post-war creation.
MOVING DOWNSTREAM - MILLENNIUM BRIDGE
This new bridge, built to commemorate the new millennium ('No sh.. Sherlock!')
was a bit controversial when planned and rather a disaster when opened as it had to be closed practically immediately due to safety concerns on this pedestrian span.
First the bridge had to be designed so as not to obscure the view across the bridge to St Paul's Cathedral yet high enough for ships to pass under it. the solution- make a suspension bridge where the support cables run along the sides of the bridge rather than above it. Designed by a world-famous pre-eminent architect whose name escapes me, the bridge was meant to wobble a bit when folks crossed it - but when opened it wobbled so much that pedestrians became afraid it was collapsing - so it was closed and special shock absorbers installed to lessen the wobble. It still moves a bit when crossing it. The architect was steadfast that nothing was structurally wrong with the span but that it was only a perception that it was too shakey.
Anyway, this slender span now provides a smashing way to go between the Tate Modern Art Extravaganza and Saint Paul's Cathedral and the view towards St Paul's is stunning and the bridge helped reinvigorate a previously shabby area between St Paul's and the Thames.
MOVING DOWNSTREAM - MILLENNIUM BRIDGE
This new bridge, built to commemorate the new millennium ('No sh.. Sherlock!')
was a bit controversial when planned and rather a disaster when opened as it had to be closed practically immediately due to safety concerns on this pedestrian span.
First the bridge had to be designed so as not to obscure the view across the bridge to St Paul's Cathedral yet high enough for ships to pass under it. the solution- make a suspension bridge where the support cables run along the sides of the bridge rather than above it. Designed by a world-famous pre-eminent architect whose name escapes me, the bridge was meant to wobble a bit when folks crossed it - but when opened it wobbled so much that pedestrians became afraid it was collapsing - so it was closed and special shock absorbers installed to lessen the wobble. It still moves a bit when crossing it. The architect was steadfast that nothing was structurally wrong with the span but that it was only a perception that it was too shakey.
Anyway, this slender span now provides a smashing way to go between the Tate Modern Art Extravaganza and Saint Paul's Cathedral and the view towards St Paul's is stunning and the bridge helped reinvigorate a previously shabby area between St Paul's and the Thames.
Dec 6th, 2006, 07:31 AM
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One of the few occasions when I can say "I was there": the opening of the Millennium Bridge. It was the ultimate workout - an extremely windy day and the climax of a sponsored walk for a children's charity across all the Thames bridges, to mark the opening day. So there were tens of thousands of people, including a high proportion of children, on and trying to get on the bridge (there was a queue of about 20-30 minutes to get on). It struck me at the time that if you have a suspension bridge whose cables run parallel, it's likely to be a bit wobbly (I'm no engineer, it just seemed intuitive that would happen). But the wobbles didn't strike me as unsafe, and I didn't see anyone looking frightened. It just meant everyone stopped to maintain their balance, and the effect was to reinforce the wobble: a bit of behavioural impact that engineers hadn't anticipated.
Dec 6th, 2006, 07:58 AM
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The Charing Cross railway bridge replaced the Hungerford suspension bridge. You can still see that two of the piers of the Charing Cross bridge are brick and these supported the suspension bridge. The chains from this bridge were used for Brunel's Clifton bridge across the Avon Gorge in Bristol. This beautiful monument to Brunel's genius was still unfinished when he died because the money had run out, but was completed later.
Dec 7th, 2006, 08:28 AM
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stokebailey- indeed, i was disappointed that it didn't wobble a bit more myself.
SOUTHWARK BRIDGE
One of the Thames less herladed bridges, this span is an arch bridge linking Southwark and the City. The current bridge opened in 1921, replacing a previous bridge dating from 1819, and weirdly is owned and maintained by Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the Corporation of London. It's nicknamed the "car park bridge" because group-tour bus drivers often use it to stable their vehicles. Under the bridge on the Southwark side are some old steps, which, formerly used by Thames watermen to moor their boats and wait for customers remain because the bridge was built into them.
The next downstream is Cannon Street Railway Bridge.
SOUTHWARK BRIDGE
One of the Thames less herladed bridges, this span is an arch bridge linking Southwark and the City. The current bridge opened in 1921, replacing a previous bridge dating from 1819, and weirdly is owned and maintained by Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the Corporation of London. It's nicknamed the "car park bridge" because group-tour bus drivers often use it to stable their vehicles. Under the bridge on the Southwark side are some old steps, which, formerly used by Thames watermen to moor their boats and wait for customers remain because the bridge was built into them.
The next downstream is Cannon Street Railway Bridge.
Dec 8th, 2006, 08:42 AM
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CANNON STREET RAILWAY BRIDGE
'Flowing' downstream from Southwark Bridge, the next span over the Thames is the Cannon Street Railway Bridge, which carries only trains over the river to Cannon Street station on the north bank. Once named the Alexandra Bridge after Alexandra of Denmark who was the wife of the future King Edward VII i haven't found out why the name was changed??
The bridge, built for the South Eastern Railway, opened in 1866. Its original form entailed five spans standing on cast-iron Doric pillars, but was subsequently widened between 1886–9 and extensively renovated between 1979–82, which sadly resulted in many of its ornamental features being removed and the structure taking on a rather bleak pedestrian appearance.
Folks on the Thameslink trains that incessantly rattle across the bridge en route to Kings Cross get a nice view of the Thames from the middle of the span.
NEXT BRIDGE - LONDON BRIDGE -
It was the scene of the Marchioness disaster in 1989.
'Flowing' downstream from Southwark Bridge, the next span over the Thames is the Cannon Street Railway Bridge, which carries only trains over the river to Cannon Street station on the north bank. Once named the Alexandra Bridge after Alexandra of Denmark who was the wife of the future King Edward VII i haven't found out why the name was changed??
The bridge, built for the South Eastern Railway, opened in 1866. Its original form entailed five spans standing on cast-iron Doric pillars, but was subsequently widened between 1886–9 and extensively renovated between 1979–82, which sadly resulted in many of its ornamental features being removed and the structure taking on a rather bleak pedestrian appearance.
Folks on the Thameslink trains that incessantly rattle across the bridge en route to Kings Cross get a nice view of the Thames from the middle of the span.
NEXT BRIDGE - LONDON BRIDGE -
It was the scene of the Marchioness disaster in 1989.
Dec 11th, 2006, 08:03 AM
#58
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THE MARCHIONESS DISASTER OF 1989
Before flowing down to London Bridge, the Thames, right under the Cannon Street Railway Bridge, was the scene of the infamous Marchioness Disaster of 20 August 1989, when the pleasure boat Marchioness sank after being rammed by a dredging boat. 51 of the 132 passengers on the Marchioness for a private birthday party drowned.
Before flowing down to London Bridge, the Thames, right under the Cannon Street Railway Bridge, was the scene of the infamous Marchioness Disaster of 20 August 1989, when the pleasure boat Marchioness sank after being rammed by a dredging boat. 51 of the 132 passengers on the Marchioness for a private birthday party drowned.
Dec 12th, 2006, 09:39 AM
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LONDON BRIDGE
This crossing is the oldest of all Thames bridges and was historically the most important. A millennium ago King Olaf and his Viking marauders attacked London and much of the fighting took place on the bridge, with the Vikings destroying much of the bridge and drowning the defenders - thus giving rise to the famous nursery rhyme "London Bridge is Falling Down"
The bridge has been rebuilt many times, such as after 1968 when a rich American was duped into buying what he allegedly thought was Tower Bridge just downstream and moved it stone by stone to the desert in Arizona for his Lake Havasu (sp?) development, where it remains. But it was just a rather ordinary modern bridge and not the grandiose one he thought. Today's new London Bridge, to me, is one of the less spectacular on the Thames - a utilitarian and super busy bridge.
This crossing is the oldest of all Thames bridges and was historically the most important. A millennium ago King Olaf and his Viking marauders attacked London and much of the fighting took place on the bridge, with the Vikings destroying much of the bridge and drowning the defenders - thus giving rise to the famous nursery rhyme "London Bridge is Falling Down"
The bridge has been rebuilt many times, such as after 1968 when a rich American was duped into buying what he allegedly thought was Tower Bridge just downstream and moved it stone by stone to the desert in Arizona for his Lake Havasu (sp?) development, where it remains. But it was just a rather ordinary modern bridge and not the grandiose one he thought. Today's new London Bridge, to me, is one of the less spectacular on the Thames - a utilitarian and super busy bridge.
