South Bank History

The Origin of Blackfriars Bridge

The original Blackfriars bridge was the third Thames crossing to be constructed in the eighteenth century, just six years after the opening of the troubled, unpopular and expensive Westminster Bridge in 1750. Rivalry between the City of London and the City of Westminster may have played a part in the decision to erect another bridge since the City financiers had initially been very hostile to the Westminster Bridge project.

Read more: Blackfriars Bridge

County Hall Rediscovers 17th Century Chapel

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Names were a bit more fruity in days of yore and this drinking den is no different, opening as the'Dunghill Cock' in 1615 before changing its name to the rather more regal title of the 'Crown And Cushion'in 1785.

Moving home..

It was originally 50 yards away but in 1893 the pub moved along the street to its new home. It is now an Irish pub with a Thai restaurant above it and a small graden out back for any smokers still amongst us; a great place for an ale before coming back to County Hall.

Tower Bridge 1881-1894

One of London's best know tourist attractions, this world famous bridge was one of the last crossings to be built over the Thames. Completed in 1894, it is the lowest bridge on the Thames, and the requirement to allow 135 feet of headroom for shipping (in the days when the centre of London was still frequently used by trains of barges) explains the need for its design of twin lifting sections or bascules. These bascules and their steam-driven hydraulic machinery (provided by Armstrong Mitchell & Co.) are marvels of Victorian engineering and have each been raised around half a million times. Though the steam engines were replaced with an electrical system in 1976, they still remain on display.

High above the bridge, spanned between the twin towers that lift these bascules is a pedestrian walkway, recently reopened (it had been closed when it became evident that the walkway had become a favoured venue for suicide attempts), and approaching the towers from each river bank are the 'side-spans', effectively individual suspension bridges.

The Bridge's Architecture

The design of the bridge has been described as 'steel skeletons clothed in stone'. The Gothic style of the bridge was required by Parliament, to suit the neighbouring Tower of London, though some of the detailing was performed after the architect, Horace Jones', death.

The urban myth that Robert P. Mculloch Snr, the American property developer who bought London Bridge in 1968 and shipped it to Arizona, did so in the belief that he was buying Tower Bridge, is said to be erroneous.

The first bridge on the site was designed in 1809-10 by John Rennie for the Strand Bridge Company and opened in 1817 as a toll bridge.

The granite bridge had nine arches, each of 120 feet (36.6 m) span, separated by double Grecian-Doric stone columns and was 2,456 feet (748.6 m) long, including approaches.

Before its opening it was known as 'Strand Bridge'. During the 1840s the bridge gained a reputation as a popular place for suicide attempts.

In 1844 Thomas Hood wrote the poem The Bridge of Sighs about the suicide of a prostitute there Paintings of the bridge were created by the French Impressionist Claude Monet and English Impressionist, John Constable.

The bridge was nationalised in 1878 and given to the Metropolitan Board of Works, who removed the toll from it.

 

Sources: Wikipedia

The South Bank of The Thames is one of the most cultured and exciting places to spend time, but it wasn't always's the case. Indeed according to a daniel Lupton the South Bank was "Better termed a foule dene then a faire garden, here come few that either regard their credit or losse of time."

London itself was given more credit and was termed in 1635 'the greatest Citie of the Christian world, With a population of around 200,000 in 1600, out of a national population of probably less than five million, it was more than ten times as large as the greatest provincial city, Norwich'. As we now know such urban populations can generate it'sown issues and it hasn't always been an easy ride.