Roger Bisby discusses the history of London's bridges, focusing on their construction and historical significance.

London Bridge:

The original Roman-built wooden bridge crossed the Thames, where it was narrowest. It was a key crossing for Roman soldiers and trade.

The current London Bridge is a modern pre-stressed concrete structure. The previous bridge was sold to Americans, dispelling the myth that they thought they were buying Tower Bridge.

London Bridge was central to the city's development, and over time, tolls funded not only its maintenance but also the construction of other bridges. This fund now generates surplus income for city charities.

Historical and Cultural Highlights:

"Nancy Steps" near London Bridge, where the character Nancy was murdered in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.

The famous nursery rhyme London Bridge is Falling Down references a 13th-century event when King Henry III's wife misused bridge toll funds.

Southwark Bridge:

Initially cast in Rotherham from iron, the steep slope made it unpopular with horse-drawn carts. Despite being the least-used bridge today, it's a favourite among cyclists. The bridge was also the site of the tragic 1989 Marchioness disaster when 51 people drowned in a collision with a dredger.

Blackfriars Bridge:

The bridge's second version (road and railway) was built wider to support increased traffic. The original pillars remain, but they serve no structural purpose.

Waterloo Bridge:

Notably built by women during WWII, Waterloo Bridge is stark and modernist, though Roger criticizes its aesthetics. The structure has had maintenance issues like rust and spalling. Interestingly, the bridge was completed while men were away at war, highlighting the significant contributions of women to construction during this period.

Millennium Bridge (Wobbly Bridge):

A suspension bridge connecting Tate Modern with St. Paul's Cathedral initially experienced a wobbling problem, later fixed with dampeners.

Westminster and Lambeth Bridges:

Westminster Bridge is painted green to match the House of Commons seating, while Lambeth Bridge is painted red to match the House of Lords. Lambeth Bridge's pineapples are theorized to represent exotic fruits once brought to London.

Tower Bridge:

Completed around 1890, Tower Bridge is a suspension bridge with a central drawbridge to allow ships to pass. The high-level walkways, initially intended for pedestrian use, were rarely utilized.

Roger closes by suggesting exploring less-visited areas east of Tower Bridge, which feature remnants of old docks and beautiful cranes. He invites viewers to comment if they’d like to see more historical content focused on London's buildings.

________________________

📖 CHAPTERS

00:00 London Bridge
01:46 Nancy's Steps
05:19 St Magnus the Martyr
07:00 Hanseatic Walk
08:00 Southwark Bridge
09:05 Marchioness disaster
10:42 Shakespeare's Globe
11:00 Millennium Bridge
11:46 Blackfriars Railway Bridge
13:07 Thames Beach
14:00 Waterloo Bridge
15:20 Somerset House
16:14 Savoy Garden
16:32 Sir Joseph Bazalgette
17:00 Westminster Bridge
18:00 The South Bank Lion
18:40 Lambeth Palace
19:00 Lambeth Bridge
20:02 Horseferry Road
21:00 Tower Bridge
23:15 JS Kashima
24:00 Bermondsey

________________________

🔗 OTHER LINKS

Nancy's Steps from Oliver Twist
https://londonist.com/london/history/...

St Magnus the Martyr
https://www.stmagnusmartyr.org.uk

Shakespeare's Globe
https://www.shakespearesglobe.com

Sir Joseph Bazalgette
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_...

JS Kashima
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JS_Kashima

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